GREAT PLACE! good prices, this place is huge, lots of room but no no pool table
(4)
Lester H.
Whenever I'm in Lex, I visit Pazzo's. For one, many of my friends have in the past and still do work here. Aside from that, the pesto bread is incredibly cheap, $3?, and the beer selection is quite nice for my Bluegrass homeland. TVs exist in abundance and are usually tuned into things I actually care about. Don't worry about the panhandlers. Give the poor saps a buck. If you ever end up in the Northeast or the West Coast, you'll appreciate the fact that you stuffed yourself full of food and caught a nice buzz for less than $30.
(4)
David T.
Came here for some beers, took a pizza to go. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive beer selection, especially the selection of Belgian Ales. The pizza was great, very tasty and very filling. Service was also great -- our waitress was great, very friendly and very helpful. There was a good crowd here on a Tuesday night, would definitely come back here again if in the area.
(4)
Luke B.
My favorite place to sit down, relax, and have some good beer and decent food. Damn good pizza, and excellent ever-changing beer list. Sunday afternoons (1-3?) are great to get a jumbo slice of cheese pizza for a little more than a buck, but it can be hard to get a table. Service isn't exactly the best, but the atmosphere makes up for it.
(5)
Daniel F.
Pazzo's is the place that I reccommend to out-of-towners. It is one of the few special places in Lexington. Yes, the beer list is amazing and the best in Lexington. However, the pretzel appitizer and Funky Chicken Pizza will keep you coming back. The service can be slow and inconsistent, however the atmosphere, location, pizza and beer more than make up for it. As a Lexington local, it is my restaurant of choice. A must for any Lexitonian or guest to the bluegrass.
(5)
Cinimod S.
The servers here are the best in town, although they usually seem pretty stressed, this place is usually packed. The beer selection is what draws the crowds. The pizza at mellow mushroom is better but more expensive, so theres the trade off. The pesto bread is well worth it. I wish they had more South American and Asian beers. Its heavily European on the menu there.
(4)
Camille G.
Simple pizza and burgers joint with chicken fingers, etc. Doesn't really have anything particular to recommend it, and like anything around UK, difficult parking.
(2)
Daniel R.
The pizza is good, but not an authentic Neapolitan style if that is what you are are looking for. The daily slices will keep you full as you enjoy basically any kind of beer you could possible want. The pretzels are also a great way to soak up some of that alcohol. This is a must try near UK's campus.
(3)
Dave B.
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great beer selection. Excellent pizza & pretzels.
(5)
Jennifer S.
The beer list is freaking intense! I wish I could have one of every single kind! But then I'd be poor and probably be in the hospital. Anyway, this is definitely the places to bring beer connoisseurs. Pizza is pretty dang good. Staff are always busy so it takes a while to get things rolling, but if you have lots of time, it's worth it.
(4)
Tiffany B.
Based on the food alone this place is 5 stars, but service is almost always crazy-slow, even when they aren't busy. With that said, the pizza really is great (Pazzos Pesto is my fave) and plenty of beers on tap! Great place to watch the big game or chill on the patio. Also, they have $1.25 jumbo slices of cheese pizza on Sundays for the lunch crowd.
(3)
Ed S.
Great beer, but unbelievably bad service. Whoever staffs this restaurant is either high on drugs or just plain stupid. The food is OK. The pizza crust is too salty and is hard usually. The toppings are OK. Again the beer is great. If you don't mind horrible service as a punitive price to pay for good beer then Pazzo's will be fine. If, however, you have or the party you're with have a shred of class and/or dignity, then you will be very upset with the staff. *UPDATE* The service is getting better. It appears that the slobs that looked hung over and jonesing for another fix have been booted and replaced. Most of the servers and bartenders are nice, clean people now. Pazzo's has made it so that you cannot order beers from two of the three bars when you are on the patio. I'm not sure it the very young servers complain and don't realize that's how you make money, or if management decided to disregard the wants of customers and servers on their own. It's hard to tell, but I don't go there anymore if I want to sit outside on a patio for beers.
(3)
John F.
This place is OK it has decent food and it's a good college hangout although it's a bit pricey for college students. I would say the Pizza is some where between a delivery pie and a good Italian pizza shop pie.
(3)
Sarah C.
Went to Pazzo's for the 2nd time last night. It is fine but nothing to write home about. We ordered the 4 cheese pizza, which had WAY too much cheese on it... like 4 times the normal amount of cheese. After 1 slice I was done with it and felt like I needed to shower from all of the grease. The plus to Pazzo's is the beer selection and TVs for sports watching.
(2)
Klint A.
I love Pazzo's!!! Years ago, I used to buy shoes there! Let me explain. Pazzo's occupies most of a large building near North Campus (UK), roughly on the corner of Euclid and Limestone. This building formerly housed "Court Sports", a local shoe store. I'm not sure when the change occured, but a few years ago...I walked down from my apartment to buy some shoes...and ended up with a pizza instead! The atmosphere at Pazzo's, for me, is perfect. The atmosphere is well done. Just dark enough, just enough bricks, just enough wood. It feels like it's been there longer than it has. The service is uhm...disinterested? But it's kind of what you'd expect/want at a pizza place by a college campus. Try the cheese calzone! The pizzas are great, the calzones are better. If you're on a budget, you can eat on the cheap during happy hour. Pretzels, cheese bread, pesto bread, etc. are all only a few bucks. Seriously though, get the cheese calzone! But the best part is the BEER. Pazzo's has one of the better beer lists in town, and a solid selection of draft beers. As mentioned in some other reviews...go on Wednesday with a friend. Get yourself a pitcher of a great beer and take home some pint glasses. I've tried a lot of beers for the first time at Pazzo's...and they all tasted perfect with a cheese calzone!
(5)
Ivy C.
Pretty decent pizza. Everything I have had here has been good. My favorite is, of course, the pizza, but the pretzels are delicious and so is the pesto bread. I can't say much for the service though. One time, a friend and I went to Pazzos to watch a football game. When we asked to be seated, the hostess was sort of annoyed/rude and made us wait 15 minutes even though there were clearly open tables in various places. Finally, we sat down at one of the bars by ourselves, because it appeared that the hostess had either forgotten about us or simply didn't care. Then, we were pretty much neglected by our waitress the entire night. We had to keep asking other servers if they could get things for us, refill our drinks, check on our food, etc. It wasn't even that busy - we went during mid-afternoon and the place was definitely not full. That was the worst service of all the times I've been to Pazzos, but to be honest, the service was never that great to start with. Wait times for food just depend on how lucky you are that day. I usually don't have too many complaints about the wait time for food, except for that awful day when my order of cheese pizza literally took a half hr to make. Overall, it's a decent local joint if you don't mind shitty service and good pizza.
(3)
Eric H.
Good pizza, great beer selection. the staff was friendly but a little slow, I had to wait 30 minutes for my appstizers. good atmosphere.
(4)
Brian R.
The big draw for Pazzo's is that they are located close to the University of Kentucky campus. They have pretty decent pizza (better can be had at Pucinni's Smiling Teeth) and a good selection of beer (better can be had at Marikka's on Southland). If you are willing to compromise a little on both to get the pizza and the beer together in one place, then you are all set with Pazzo's. Hit them on Wednesday to take part in "Pint Night" where you can get a collectable pint glass to take home with you when you buy a featured beer. It is a fun place and with good atmosphere, but loses a star for lacking the best pizza or beer in town.
(4)
Taylor B.
Good beer, decent pizza, HORRIBLE SERVICE, esp if they're busy. If they're not busy, it's almost always a good bet. If there's a wait, you might as well go somewhere else.
(4)
Erik W.
The pizza is pretty good and beer selection here is great, the service is the absolute pits. A first admonition: avoid this place like the plague on Wednesday nights -- Pint Night. If you can get early enough to get a table, they might tell you have to have 3/4 of your party, while you can see across the room that there is at least one table for 8 with a single person saving it. Then you might go to the bar and ask to "pre-order" the special and get the pint glasses to keep and they'll tell you can't do that, and then you wait there another 10 minutes to order another drink for now, and somebody else walks up and pre-orders the special and walks away with two glasses. Bottom line, no consistency whatsoever and it's uber frustrating. Even on other nights of the week, the service is slow and erratic. But, like I said, the pizza is pretty good. Personally, I stick to Mellow Mushroom which is a block and a half away.
(2)
Calvin G.
I love pazzo's! Wendesday is pint night and starting at 6:30 (you'll have to get there about 5) if you order a pitcher of that week's beer you get two pint glasses to keep! Great pizza and toms of great beer!
(5)
Andrew N.
Love to hang out at this place. Just be sure to arrive before 5:30 on Thursdays to get a table. Ive had the subs and my wife had the pizza here and we both agree the food is great. Parking can be a pain at times, plus the "security" guard at the lot is sort of a jerk. Otherwise, great time
(4)
Ginny W.
Omg - the food here is to freakin die for. When its time to splurge for pizza - this is the place I save up for to go to when I travel to the KY. I get the white pizza. It is *the* best white pizza I have ever had. The beer list is mighty and the staff has always been really friendly.
(5)
Ross M.
I love pizza and i could do without this place. Atmosphere is good, it's an ok place to hang out with friends, but the pizza was unremarkable. It's one of the last two places I'd choose for pizza in Lexington.
(2)
Dave A.
Pazzo's is one of the best spots in Lexington! GREAT pizza and Calzones etc. and an incredible selection of beer on tap. I prefer to sit at the cozy bar downstairs, myself. They have a daily beer menu, though they usually have the same beer list with a small number of rotating taps. I believe they have around 30-35 beers on tap and a whole bunch of different bottles, though probably not as many as Marikka's!
(5)
pedro s.
Great pizza, great beer selection
(5)
Sam W.
Great pizza and baked subs, but the thing that makes this place a favorite is the barroom character and atmosphere... the beer tome is sorted by the country of origin and is astoundingly broad. Mostly I like the pizza and coziness, especially the bar downstairs. The crowds are thickest on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. A popular hangout for the students and teachers from nearby University of Kentucky, the booths are oversized and ideal for larger groups. Oh, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Watch out for the panhandlers, who will make up some crap about needing bus fare.
(5)
Nate H.
pizza is good and beer selection outstanding. best to be ready for a college crowd b/c it's pretty much on UK campus.
(4)
Marc J.
This is a fun pizza joint with an outstanding beer selection. For food, stick with the basics here: pizzas feature a chewy crust that's a bit doughy, with nice choices of fresh toppings. Pretzels are also pretty good: crunchy/chewy pizza dough slathered in butter and parm, served with a marinara sauce. Beer list includes a wide range of US microbrews, some interesting imported stuff, and your usual mass-produced brews if that's what you prefer. Service is friendly but maybe a little busy.
(4)
Jacob J.
This is just a very fun and fulfilling college pub. Is it fine dining? No but the pretzels are huge, soft, coated in butter and parmesan, and come apart like play-doh. Somehow (I know how: it's the butter and parmesan and luscious dough) it makes for a good meal of it's own. And that's if you order the small sample. The calzone is like the upgrade. Made with the same dough and coating, it's an appetite testing treat. They pack it with globs of cheese and meat. I had the funky chicken and it's big enough for two. But I had no regrets about finishing it on my own. What really makes this place stand out, though, is the beer selection. It refuses to settle for the college bastions of Miller and Coors. There's nearly 50 different craft and international beers on tap, I think. I went local, with two Kentucky choices, but there's a choice from coast to coast and hearty sampling of Belgians too. If that's not what sells all those basketball players in recruiting, I don't what does.
(4)
Jamie P.
IF Pazzo's were only a pizza joint, they'd get 2 stars. They get an extra one for one thing: Pint Night! The pizza just isn't good. Stiff, hard to eat crust, toppings that aren't the freshest. Plus, it takes up to an hour to get a pizza. I know this because I used to torture myself with their pizza when we'd go for Pint Night. That said, Pint Night kicks ass. I'd not trade another drinking event I've ever been to for Pint Night, where you get rad beer glasses just for ordering a pitcher of a different, wonderful craft beer every single week. In fact, when I first moved out of my parents' house, I had enough Pint Night glasses to fill my cabinet. A few broke, but they're still responsible for furnishing a good chunk of my glassware. So keep doing Pint Night, Pazzo's. Your pizza underwhelms but your beer is fan-freaking-tastic.
(3)
Mike M.
Seating and service was fast. Sari ordered a Pesto pizza, I ordered the Funky Chicken calzone. The drinks came quickly, food took about 25 minutes from placing the order. Sari's pizza was hot, fresh from the oven. My calzone, though was cold. Not good. Sari enjoyed her pizza, my calzone was just OK. The crust had a nice yeasty taste and was crispy on the outside, but the inside was doughy and seemed to be under baked. That could have been caused though by the calzone sitting around while Sari's pizza was baking. Prices are good, service (Morgan was our server) was great, food was mixed: 1 yay, 1 nay.
(3)
Jake R.
Where to start? We wanted to enjoy a UK basketball game, but it was busy so we went to their outdoor patio. Let's hit on the lowlights: they only had appetizers available at the bar, because apparently the outdoor patio isn't a part of the restaurant? Stupid. They had one bartender trying to fix drinks for 80+ people outside. I blame that on the owner, or whoever made the schedule. The food was good, but it took forever for is to actually be able to order. And when the food arrived (meatballs and cheese bread), we were told that there was no silverware. I had to actually go inside to get some, which took an extra 15 minutes. The service is poor. The drinks are poor. The food is okay. I wish I would have never made a trip here.
(1)
Steven W.
Been here many times...Good crowds, very casual, great pizza, and beer prices are very reasonable!
(4)
Randa E.
The pizza is just ok, but if you're going to Pazzo's you're going for one of two reasons... or maybe both:) 1. Watch the Cats 2. Awesome beer selection Pint Night is always fun, but get there early or plan on standing!
(4)
Craig U.
First off, this place is huge. Was not expecting that at all. I guess I didn't realize that it stretched behind several buildings there on S. Limestone. Decor is all shiny dark-stained wood. Very professional looking bar in appearance with several rooms to walk through and too many beers on tap to count. My friend recommended that we try a Meatball Sub and a Funky Chicken Calzone. I also had seen good reviews of the Pretzel appetizer on Yelp as well, so I decided to give it a shot. For $3, why the heck not. First off, the pretzels are HUGE. Loaded with butter and parmesan, and a nice real-bread taste (as in, possibly from a starter?). Not really hard and crusty like you would expect, more like a misshapen bread stick. The pretzels are definitely worth your time. The Meatball Sub was pretty good. I enjoyed that the part of the loaf cut out to make room for the meatballs was on the side and turned into a kind of bread stick. The meatballs themselves were average size, but they were tasty. They didn't have that store-bought flavor, so you can tell someone actually made them by hand. The cheese was layered on THICK. So thick that when I ate the other half the next day for lunch, I temporarily mistook it for a piece of meat. A little pricey for $9, but definitely tasty. My wife got the Funky Chicken Calzone, and boy was I jealous. It was about the same cost as my meal, but it was ENORMOUS. And the bread tasted a lot like the same bread they used for the pretzels. The innards consisted of shredded chicken and the most delicious garlic-alfredo sauce I have tasted in my life. She ended up eating leftovers of this at work for the next two days. Not that eating those giant pretzels hurt on that respect either. Most of the folks around us were getting pizza by the slice, which looked pretty good. We just wanted to try the fancy stuff. Wait staff here can be a little slow getting things started, but once they arrived they were very attentive and efficient. One even changed the channel per a customer request. I was quite pleased, as it resulted in watching a hockey game instead of ESPN highlights. Overall, very delightful. This place will definitely have to go into my rotation.
(4)
Jesica L.
My coworkers told me this was the best pizza place in town. I was excited to try a new restaurant and my friends and I all ordered the lunch special- a jumbo slice of pizza and soup. My chili was ok. Nothing to write home about but not terrible either. We waited for longer than usual for our pizza slices and when they finally arrived I was so disappointed. The crust was almost see through thin, incredibly greasy and not good at all! It was so thin I could not pick it up to eat. The only reason I ate it was because I was so hungry not because it was particularly edible. On top of it all, they added generous amounts of Parmesan cheese all over my pizza which I do not like. I tried scraping off the Parmesan cheese and soaking up the grease the entire time. Terrible pizza + slow service means I won't come back here again.
(2)
Sable B.
I wouldn't say my experience was wonderful or awful, it truly was a-ok. Nothing crazy to rave about. And maybe that's because I am jaded by delicious pizza offerings in Cincy, such as A Tavola and Adriatico's. And craft beer selections in Cincy are things I've never heard of and haven't tried yet, while Pazzo's offered a lot of things I have seen and tried. The service was fine, the pizza was good, and the beers I had were enjoyable.
(3)
Amanda F.
Try the pretzels! They beat the ones in the mall! Soft warm dough covered in butter and Parmesan cheese there's nothing not to love about them. Their pizza list is quite extensive so you really can't go wrong with whatever pizza you order. If you are free try pint night. It can get quite crowded but it's a perfect chance to try different beers. Plus you get a souvenir glass to take home.
(5)
Adam B.
Get the funky chicken and any of a great assortment of beers. One of the few places near downtown that offers private lot parking. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Amanda B.
Okay so this is def a college bar/pizza joint which is cool but have low expectations for atmosphere. The wings were disgusting!!!!! Do not even bother...they are baked which is fantastic but they are straight out of a frozen bag and when you get them, the skin is just mushy fat!!! My husband loves wings and he couldn't eat them. On the other hand the pizza is fantastic!! Hubby had the meatball and I had the pazzo's calzone (tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms). Yum Yum Yum!!! Marinara that came with the calzone was awesome too! Skip the app's and dig into the pizza! Salads looked yummy, I peeked at a table next to us, looked fresh and delish!
First visit here and the pizza was pretty good. The pretzel appetizer was great. A cheese dipping sauce would have made it perfect. The pretzels are huge and the small order has three of them. They didn't have a kids menu, but I guess since it's in the middle of UK's campus that would be expected. It's a great location for the college and is a great spot for college kids to hang out and watch games.
(4)
Heather P.
I can't believe that I waited so long to discover this place. The home and copy right holder of the name "Pint Night", each week they feature a different pint special. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't really elaborate about the hundreds of different beers that they seem to offer.Yes, it's close to campus and yes there are a lot of younger people, but I didn't feel out of place because there is a mixture of people. The pizza was excellent...very filling. The only downside is, the parking. They have a very small lot, once that's full, you have to park on the street. The are a lot of surrounding hot spots so the street parking is scarce too.
(4)
Jagger R.
I visited Pazzo's while visiting my sister at the University of Kentucky, and it was delicious. I do not think I've ever tasted better cheese sticks at any other pizza place! I shared a small pizza with my sister and it was awesome! It was seasoned with Parmesan, cooked to PERFECTION, and was given to us quickly. Along with Parkette Drive-In, this is a great restaurant to visit while in Lexington!
(5)
Meredith A.
Great beer selection - Kentucky Ale was the go-to given the circumstance. Pizza was delicious and the "small" size was plenty big for two people. The pretzels are a perfect choice for your appetizer and are much bigger than expected. Price was decent but expect to pay $4.50+ for one beer.
(4)
Olwen C.
Beer selection is one of the best in town. Food is good, but every time I've been here I've either had something wrong with my order or it took a LONG time to be served. Could be great, but they have some staff training to do.
(4)
Jon H.
Good food, but bad service. I would have rate this place higher even with the poor service, but it was beyond that. The bartender was rude. I walked in with a group of friends and the guy working behind the bar asked us why we were sitting down (in a very crapy tone) we said because we wanted a beer. He got even crappier and told us he was working on closing down and we should leave. Keep in mind they were still serving other guest around us. I didn't stick around, due to the attitude. I've gone back to get take out and food was good, but I can't take RUDE.
(2)
Andrew Y.
3-stars, A-OK.This local pub is a decent hangout. They have the atmosphere, the patio, and enough of a diversity in beers. Fun place to have a few drinks, pizza and calzones are fairly decent. Food won't blow you away, but the environment is worthy of 3-stars.
(3)
Chandler L.
A downtown classic! A ton of space, craft beer and great pizza. If you are ever on campus make sure to stop by and grab a slice.
(5)
Jack T.
Not really sure what to say when it comes to this restaurant. I've been here six times and three of those times was some of the best pizza I've ever had and the other three times was maybe the worst. Long story short, if the pizza is not BURNT (which it apparently is HALF the time), the pizza is great.
(3)
Thomas I.
Pint night here is cool. Just another fun thing to do in Lexington. But holy crap, what consistently TERRIBLE service. The hostess and wait staff seem completely disinterested all of the time. It's a busy spot downtown on a college campus and it's likely that all of the staff are college students but they do an awful job of making you feel welcome. The food is just okay. Overall pretty meh. Fix the service and it could be amazing.
(2)
Derek L.
The beer selection here is awesome! Pizza is solid! The place is huge with a really cool atmosphere! Don't come here if you are in a hurry though. Every time I go it takes over an hour to get my pizza. But they have fantastic beers to make the wait more enjoyable!
(4)
M R.
I love this place and have since I was in lex for college. I know there are what some may call "deficiencies", but I think the trick is to take the joint for what it is. Service can be slow, but the food is awesome and the beer selection can't be beat. I will always come back when I am in town.
(4)
Chelsea L.
Great food! Service is consistent; yeah they're not overly attentive but they have three floors + a patio and one kitchen. Considering the volume of guests id say they do alright. Just know if you go here, be ready to indulge. Dieters beware, pretzels be comin for ya! (They're awesome with ranch!)
(5)
Chad C.
Love this place. Pizza by the slice and beer by the pint or picher. Great atmosphere at a great price. I need a pazzo day. Wed Night is Pint night where they celebrate a specific beer on tap and you get free mugs with every pitcher ordered.
(5)
Susan B.
Great beer list is not enough guys. Wrong drink order , double meat meant no visible meat, server was too busy chatting with her friend at the bar to check on things, manager rather than apologizing decided to debate things with us. Very disappointed. Won't be back there.
(1)
Robert N.
As a supporter of local bistros/cafes/college pizza hangouts, I'm usually a big fan of Pazzos. Their mega meat pizza is the peanut butter to my goldfish. The issue has become the service. A college age woman had the genius idea to not bring a notepad to write out our order. She then decided after we had already ordered to get the pad and make us repeat everything. With great pizza and dookie service I've decided to give Pazzos three stars.
(3)
Kandice G.
I found this place while working at UK. It is close to campus and a great time if alone or with a group. I don't think an explanation is needed for a group. As for alone, the atmosphere was perfect for me while writing.
(5)
Tom D.
I have enjoyed their pizza selection several times and the beer selection is great. Beer menu includes descriptions to inspire trying something new each time. They used to have the ability to buy a "flight" of 6 samplers but I was disappointed to find this discontinued during my most recent visit. TIP: don't let them seat you in the lowest level as the low ceiling makes it virtually impossible to carry on a conversation without leaning in close. I was at a table with 8 people and could really only talk (yell) with those people sitting at my end of the table.
(3)
Maggie T.
Always very packed. The pizza is good for KY- and they have a lot of different choices. Awesome place to watch the game. Just a rowdy place overall, which isn't surprising because it's on campus. If you watch any of the Sweet 16 games there, get there EARLY otherwise you can't get in.
(3)
Joanne A.
Great pizza and beer menu. Only downside is the service can be questionable. We've had great service but usually it's pretty bad. It's all college students and most don't care about the customers.
(4)
Rick F.
It took me three visits to this place to finally get a bartender's attention. The two times I could not get service I just walked over to Joe Bs for some average Pizza. Lexington does not know crap about pizza because they have never been to Italy, France or Spain and had the real thing. Pazzo's pizza must be covered in liquid smoke I did not see any wood fired ovens but even with the wood fired ovens of Europe there is not a smoke flavor. Also noticed half the beer drawn at Pazzo's goes down the drain. Had to tell the bartender to tilt the beer glass and pull back slowly on the tap. I hate a big head of foam and I hate to see beer go down the drain. Hope Tom trains his pourers better in the future they are costing him a bundle.
(2)
Gordon F.
Excellent pizza here at a reasonable price, much better than one might expect from a pub-style restaurant. The selection of Belgian beers is way above average, make sure you at least get a Leffe or maybe a more expensive Belgian beer like a Delirium Tremens with your pizza while you're there. The pesto bread appetizer was delicious and was so filling we were hardly even hungry by the time our pizza arrived. The decor is awesome and the location is great. Just an overall great experience here. Note: I probably wouldn't bother coming here during a UK game, it's probably total chaos.
(5)
Ashley G.
Best pizza in Lexington!! The pretzels appetizer is delicious. I am normally not a fan of BBQ pizza, but their BBQ Hawaiian is delicious!!!! I've had a variety of their pizza's and all have been spectacular! The only suggestion I make is to go with friends and get a whole pie, their individual slices are meh! Maybe they aren't fresh, I dunno, but you can taste a huge difference from a whole pie to a slice. Also the beer selection is amazing! Basically any beer you want, you can find here.
(5)
S C.
For a college bar, the food was decent. Great service, too. Ordered chili and greek salad. Both were fresh. Big wide screen TV. Good place to watch a game and drink beer. Very wide selection.
(3)
David R.
Barreling down the highway at 85mph, I prefer to keep my full attention on the road. So, I chose Pazzo's because it was the first result for "Pizza" in "Lexington, KY" on my occasionally handy Yelp mobile app. And from what I have seen of Lexington Yelp, 21 reviews indicates a very popular place indeed. I also liked the choice because the map showed it in the middle of town, and if I were only going to stop long enough for dinner, I wanted at least to see some of the city on my way in and my way out. Convenient parking lot right across the alley? Great. Lots of patio seating? Also nifty. Although, I had spent most of the day in the sun and preferred a seat inside. They showed me to a relatively quiet corner in one of the side rooms, where there are also a couch and some easy chairs in addition to the round two-tops. They had calzones on the menu, so that was a lock. I wanted to try the pizza too, but they don't serve single slices at dinnertime. Appetizers were half-price until 7, so I ordered the (already cheap at $2.95) pretzels. This was listed as "(3)" but I did not expect three full-sized pretzels. Oops. Well, I ate all three--they were damn good, brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with parmesan, and served with marinara on the side. Think about that deal, by the way--$1.48 for a pretzel appetizer that could easily be shared by two people who just want something to nibble on while they drink beer and watch basketball. That said, I should have had a salad instead, because the calzone (pepperoni and green peppers) was a good size, and very doughy. I did finish it all, because I wasn't in a hurry, and it really was delicious. If this were a Chicago joint, I would slot them somewhere around #4 or #5 on my calzone list. The peppers were fresh and slightly crunchy, and the presence of ricotta did not diminish my enjoyment. Solid beer list--about three to four dozen drafts. My waitress was a little stiff at first but warmed up considerably. She kept coming by to check on me even after it was obvious that I wasn't going to order anything else and was merely struggling to fit everything into my gluttonous stomach. Final tally--$18 for two beers, the half-price pretzels, and the calzone with two ingredients. I love travelling to small cities.
(4)
Gail B.
A late dinner here, it wasn't very busy but our service was terrible. Our server started by apologizing for taking so long to greet us. We placed our drink orders and she rolled her eyes when someone In our group couldn't decide on one of the vast selection of micro- brewed beers. She offered very little help in narrowing down the selection After waiting a long long time to get our drinks she came back one drink short cause she forgot what the order had been. Maybe write it down next time? The pizza took forever (big surprise) and when she brought a salad out early , no silverware was provided. Most of our group enjoyed the pizza, a Funky Chicken and Bootlegger pizza. More so the bootlegger. But I'm more of a traditionalist, I missed the red sauce and traditional toppings. I personally would try that if I ever came back. I didn't want to name the server specifically because she may have just been having a bad night, but it really did effect how I rated this review.
(2)
Josh M.
Went here before Hugh ass. Could not get anyone to wait on me in two places inside. Moved on as I wanted a beer. Was a Sunday but open, I was not the only one saying things, just the only one that decided to move on then wait. Not sure I will go back anytime soon.
(2)
Ryan N.
This place has a pretty sweet atmosphere. It looks like a small place from the street, but it actually has lots of space inside. There are multiple levels to this place (stairs leading to each). Huge beer selection. Multiple bars. The pizza is okay. It's better than any other pizza I've had in Lexington, but I haven't tried many places yet. Decently priced. Pretzels are good.
(4)
Jeff J.
I had read many reviews about Pazzo's and was eager to try the pizza. After placing our drink order it took early 15 minutes before our waitress returned to take an appetizer order. We ordered the pesto bread which was basically a hogtie bun you could get for any grocery store wit pesto and cheese....sadly it was very forgettable. We had to flag the waitress down again to get drink refills and tell her we wanted to place an order. She told us that she was sorry she wasn't giving us very much attention. We placed and order for a large cheese pizza. 49 minutes later after several ho-hum promises that it would be out in just a second our pizza arrived. The high hopes and long wait left us equally disappointed in the food as we were with the service. The crust was over cooked and dry. While we eagerly sought out our waitress for a drink refill we were encouraged about the future of our country while listening the the blabbering of some summer schooler who explained to her bored co-eds how 911 was planned by George Bush. In the end at least our hour and a half dining experience left us with a laugh. As for the food, it was as dismal as the service. Would not even give this place a second chance.
(1)
Chris P.
Not bad! Good beer selection and the service was slow but they were kinda nice. Didnt get food but the beers were moving. Nice location right next to so many places to eat.
(3)
Chris C.
Now look here. I write this review with extremely biased opinions, since this has basically been my second home / place of refuge for a good part of the past decade. Not only have i become friendly with bartenders and wait staff, but I have had numerous business and social meetings which have resulted in a ton of memories. That being said, let's get down to brass tacks. The pizza is good. Pesto Bread is really good. Beer selection is great, and the atmosphere is good for what it is. You can be a rowdy college student, a twentysomething, a professor or a family of 6 and come here and be happy. You could also be that same myriad of demographics and come here and be mad. This place can be anywhere from family friendly to downright chaotic. All depends on timing and UK sporting events. Wednesday from 6 til 10 is going to be packed because of pint night. All things considered, this is a great pizza joint with a great beer selection - the best in the downtown area for a restaurant - and it could be argued that Pazzo's (and Tom, its owner) helped spawn the craft beer movement in Lexington. Get some pie, don't get in a hurry, and have a pint or three. It's a great place....just be patient and kind to the wait staff. If you're in a hurry, go to pizza hut.
(4)
Megan C.
I love me some Pazzos. They have delicious pizza (probably my favorite in Lexington), and they've recently expanded to an additional room and patio which really helps with the crowd, especially on pint night. They've got 40 beers on tap at any given time in addition to a full service bar. Pint night, Wednesdays, always packs a crowd, but it's definitely an event worth checking out. The beer of the night comes with souvenir pint glasses that you get to take home with you. There's a really fun, pub-y atmosphere, and they always play Kentucky games. (of course they do, being three steps away from campus and not playing Kentucky games would be a new level of blasphemy). Service is usually slow, but for me, the pizza makes up for it.
(4)
Olivia W.
I have come and gone from Pazzo's often. I enjoy the patio, the beer selection and the atmosphere. It is laid back and chill. However I do not think their food is that great. It is fine, not amazing but not horrible. Every time I eat there I having a feeling of "eh." I have started to use it as a place to just drink.
(3)
S W.
Great pizza and calzone. The services less than friendly, perhaps normal for a college pizza joint. The beer cheese appetizer was a bit disappointing, but the pizza made up for it.
(4)
Brian S.
Ate here many times while in college. Can be very busy on Pint Night or during games, but there are times when the place will be dead. The pretzels are a definite must-have, and their pizza is great. If you're seated upstairs, you can even see the mixer they use to make the crust (no frozen dough here). Beer selection is enormous.
(4)
Ryan P.
Pazzo's is by far my favorite place for beer in the entire state of Kentucky. With 45 beers on tap, and well over 100 more in bottles, it certainly is a beer mecca. All beers are served in clean appropriate glassware, and the bar staff are knowledgeable about the beers they serve. Prices on beer are certainly fair as well. I also love Pazzo's food. The pizzas are amazing, especially the funky chicken. Usually when I'm here though, I stick with appetizers. During happy hour, they're half off, so it's a great time to enjoy an order of pesto bread, wings, or some of their fantastic pretzels. The best and worst time to come to Pazzo's is on Wednesdays for pint night. Buy a pitcher of the special beer, and take two glasses home. From the 160 or so beer glasses in my collection, I bet at least half came from pint night trips to Pazzo's when I was in college. The only bad part is that they've become super popular over the years, especially when UK is in session, so you must get there super early and be prepared for less than stellar service from the overworked staff. Some pint nights, you may not even be able to get a table for 2+ hours (happened to me once). For the most part, the staff are friendly, although I've had a few that weren't so pleasant over the years. Tom the owner is a great guy, so if you see him, chat him up. He runs a great business and I'll always be a regular, even though I live almost an hour away!
(5)
John W.
Absolutely the worst service in Lexington. The McDonalds down the street is five star compared to this. What a joke. 45 minutes for two pizza slices. Seated in the dark when we requested the mostly empty patio. Manager refused to speak with me. Don't waste your time here. You can get pizza, pasta, and beer anywhere. Mellow Mushroom is right around the corner. This was our fourth and last visit. Five stars for having the same level of non service every time. Did I mention that in all that time we were served NO food???
(2)
Mike W.
Pazzo's, along with Tally's and Henry Earl, are Lexington institutions. Mister Earl probably has not had the chance to partake in Pazzo's awesomeness, which is really a shame. Now, I know I'm going to get lambasted for this, but I don't think Pazzo's pizza is anything fantastic. I'm not going to say it's bad, because it's not - but people seem to rant and rave about it like its the best thing to happen to pizza since cheese. Pizza is a fantastic accompaniment to beer though, so even if its only 70% awesome on its own it will taste amazing. And oh, the beer selection. Pazzo's has one of the more impressive beer selections in the area. You can almost certainly find one, if not dozens, of varieties you've never had before. If you manage to make it during happy hour or Pint Night, you can have your fill for a relatively inexpensive price. Sadly Pazzo's is not without it's downsides. While parking is usually fine on weekdays, on weekends it can be a bit of a joke. If you live on campus, you're better off walking. Even when it's not busy, the service at Pazzo's is somewhat slow. I guess that's not so bad if you and friends are enjoying a beer and shooting the breeze, but if you came there just to eat dinner you will have a slightly than longer wait. Also, with a billion TVs and a billion college kids crammed in, the place can get a little loud. They have a patio outside that fits the bill if you're looking to have a quieter evening, but it is abhorrently hot on a summer day - it's more like a greenhouse. Ahh, college!
(4)
Tastybeverages T.
I have to say I love this place. I have been going there for years and have almost every selection on the menu. All in all, the pizzas and sandwiches are great, and the beer selection is top notch. My only problem has always been a problem, which is that they have sketchy service from time to time. I have come to expect it, and the beer takes the pain away.
(4)
Eli S.
Dear Pazzo's, My brother and I visited you from Columbus about 7 mos ago and we still talk about you and miss you. Your pizzas are what dreams are made of and I cherish the glasses I bought from you to this day. The service was outstanding ( I know, I was a server for 12 years ). Thank you for giving me such wonderful, lasting, tasty memories. I hope to see you soon. When anyone asks me where the best pizza place is around here I tell them that if they don't mind driving 3 hours, they can have the best pizza they have or will ever taste. I show them my glasses as proof. I may make a trip down there just to see you and drive back. - Eli
(5)
Dean S.
good not
(1)
Mike R.
Total failure in service, sorry. The food was ordered properly, but the kitchen messed up the order and produced the wrong food. The server said he was sorry, and that it would be out in 7 minutes. After 20 minutes, the food came and the server made no apologies. It was lunch rush and I had a meeting to get to so asked for a box and was give a tiny box. I had to point out to the server that our food to go would not even fit in that box. I said that I would like a check and a discount since it took over 1 hour to get one medium pizza and he seemed put out and said it would take a while as he would have to get a manager. A restaurant has to deal with problems, and good restaurants know how to do this. Pazzo seemed to have no way to deal with this with generally horrible service and had no available manager. I did not see a manager anywhere so perhaps the serve was correct. No apology, no compensation, and a really bad attitutde. Horrible service, wont be heading there any tie soon.
(1)
Andrew K.
Pazzos Special pizza - bunch of meat and a few good veggies, is definitely worth a try if you find yourself at Pazzo's. I really liked the pretzels (breadsticks) and marinara sauce. Our waiter was great Atmosphere was laid back Lots of tvs And they have decent parking as well! The main downside is the noise level here. Certainly not a quiet destination.
(4)
adam p.
Hit Pazzo's up for happy hour, they have it 7 days a week from 4-7. Pretzels are great and 3 huge ones are a mere buck and a half, gota love college towns! Also the beer selections is massive with 15ish on tap and about 100 in the bottle. If you can put up with the ditzy college kids serving the food its a true winner! The big patio and free parking in a busy area was also a plus!
(4)
Jon M.
Being from Seattle, I may not be the foremost authority on what most consider to be "good" pizza. I see what the purists like. I see what the new-agey pizza people like in places like CPK. My first visit to Pazzo's came in the summer of 2008, when I visited Lexington for the first time with a very good friend who lived in Louisville. Being a UK grad, she immediately recommended it. And I fell in love. With the pizza, of course. It was everything I ever wanted. Hand-made. Perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings, not going overboard on the non-traditional toppings. My friend, Melissa, had ordered a calzone, which I then ate when she was out of town for a few days. :D The next time I went was about a week later with our friend, Kristie. Going here was a reward for helping her out. And in addition to the pizza, I delved into the beer selection. Let me tell you, it is tough picking a beer from a fairly large selection is tough. Aside from the at-times-slow service (lunch hour, happy hour), this is an amazing place. It has everything I want in a pizza place....good food, good beer, good people.
(5)
Mike D.
Beer List - Uh MAZIN Pizza - stupore (amazing) Service - worse than an Applebee's, and probably stoned (oh, college...) not necessarily the servers though. like anywhere it depends. Decor- the front bar is great, the new addition smells like a frat house and has the gross wet floors to boot Pint Night - a titanic waste of time, stay away. This place is a total Jeckyll & Hyde. I want to give it 4 stars but when most of the clientele are obnoxious frat boys and most of the service is comatose at best it makes it difficult.
(3)
Morgan M.
Before the comments of hatred ensure, let me start by saying I'm a true blue Lexingtonian and a UK grad. Yesterday I patronized Pazzo's for at least the bazillionth time in my 8 years of living here, and had by far the worst experience yet. I say "yet" because in my experience Pazzo's certainly does not pride itself on service, and why would they? Clearly they are the niche go-to for a second-to-none selection of pizza and beers (read the other reviews...they are 99.9% focused on the product, not the service), and being that the staff appear largely strung out, they don't seem to care. My party of 5 arrived for dinner to a not very crowded restaurant, just in time for happy hour. A couple people ordered drinks, and a couple appetizers were ordered as well. 45 MINUTES LATER I pulled our server aside (who had come by once to refill drinks) and (at a loss for words at the negligence of the situation) bluntly asked "Where are our appetizers?" Reacting as if I'd slapped her across the face, she offered to check, returning moments later to apologetically inform us that they'd been taken to the wrong table (and she never noticed until I brought it to her attention???) and would be taken off the bill. Another 15 minutes later, we finally had our appetizers. An exhausting 20 minutes later, we had our food, except that the medium pizza myself and a friend were splitting had somehow been misinterpreted as a small. How this is plausible when the other two pizzas at the table were ordered and delivered correctly as mediums is beyond me. This was remedied by second small pizza packaged to-go. Whew! I was so relieved to leave that I was almost not annoyed by the parking Nazi out back, as he was willing to accept our pizza boxes as evidence of patronage rather than making us dig out receipts. The moral of the story is, low expectations lead to pleasant experiences.
(2)
Brad F.
How do I begin to describe Pazzo's... It's more of a state of mind than a restaurant. Big Tom the owner likes to the provider of lexington's largest beer menu especially weighted with Belgian superior ales. He even takes frequent vacations to Belgium, which really reflects the mood of this place. Now the food is your pretty general pizza and heavy bar food. Nothing wild, but goes down well with just about any ale or lager you picked from a list of ~140. Here's the rules if you want to dine or drink at Pazzo's: Don't go on a Wednesday after 5 if you don't want to play/fight the Pint Night game(you'll have an atrocious time getting anything from behind the bar.) If you want to play the game, get there around 430 and secure a table and never waste an opportunity to send your waiter to the bar. Cheers!
(4)
Sean B.
As mentioned, great selection of beer on tap and better than average pizza. Big ass pretzels are also very popular here. A great place to watch the game or have some beers with friends.
(3)
Talon H.
On paper, whole grain pizza may not sound to appealing to most people. Give it a chance and you just may be surprised.
(4)
Jeff R.
You can order a slice of cheese pizza and wait twenty minutes. Cheese pizza. And why do they brush butter over the pizza? At least the beer list is decent. I had Alpha King on tap last time I was there. That alone gets Pazzo's a star.
(3)
Jenny H.
Good pizza, good beer, reasonable prices.
(4)
Kalie B.
Tasty hoagies! Great beer menu! Service was slow but it was opening weekend at Keenland and it was packed. Would definitely come back and try more of their menu on a slower night.
(4)
Landon C.
I don't know that I've ever had good service here. Definitely a college-town pizzeria. But the pizza is great, and though it's a tad expensive it's always worth it. Don't expect good service and you can't go wrong here.
(3)
Josh S.
GREAT PLACE! good prices, this place is huge, lots of room but no no pool table
(4)
Daniel F.
Pazzo's is the place that I reccommend to out-of-towners. It is one of the few special places in Lexington. Yes, the beer list is amazing and the best in Lexington. However, the pretzel appitizer and Funky Chicken Pizza will keep you coming back. The service can be slow and inconsistent, however the atmosphere, location, pizza and beer more than make up for it. As a Lexington local, it is my restaurant of choice. A must for any Lexitonian or guest to the bluegrass.
(5)
Cinimod S.
The servers here are the best in town, although they usually seem pretty stressed, this place is usually packed. The beer selection is what draws the crowds. The pizza at mellow mushroom is better but more expensive, so theres the trade off. The pesto bread is well worth it. I wish they had more South American and Asian beers. Its heavily European on the menu there.
(4)
Camille G.
Simple pizza and burgers joint with chicken fingers, etc. Doesn't really have anything particular to recommend it, and like anything around UK, difficult parking.
(2)
Daniel R.
The pizza is good, but not an authentic Neapolitan style if that is what you are are looking for. The daily slices will keep you full as you enjoy basically any kind of beer you could possible want. The pretzels are also a great way to soak up some of that alcohol. This is a must try near UK's campus.
(3)
Dave B.
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great beer selection. Excellent pizza & pretzels.
(5)
Jennifer S.
The beer list is freaking intense! I wish I could have one of every single kind! But then I'd be poor and probably be in the hospital. Anyway, this is definitely the places to bring beer connoisseurs. Pizza is pretty dang good. Staff are always busy so it takes a while to get things rolling, but if you have lots of time, it's worth it.
(4)
Tiffany B.
Based on the food alone this place is 5 stars, but service is almost always crazy-slow, even when they aren't busy. With that said, the pizza really is great (Pazzos Pesto is my fave) and plenty of beers on tap! Great place to watch the big game or chill on the patio. Also, they have $1.25 jumbo slices of cheese pizza on Sundays for the lunch crowd.
(3)
Ed S.
Great beer, but unbelievably bad service. Whoever staffs this restaurant is either high on drugs or just plain stupid. The food is OK. The pizza crust is too salty and is hard usually. The toppings are OK. Again the beer is great. If you don't mind horrible service as a punitive price to pay for good beer then Pazzo's will be fine. If, however, you have or the party you're with have a shred of class and/or dignity, then you will be very upset with the staff. *UPDATE* The service is getting better. It appears that the slobs that looked hung over and jonesing for another fix have been booted and replaced. Most of the servers and bartenders are nice, clean people now. Pazzo's has made it so that you cannot order beers from two of the three bars when you are on the patio. I'm not sure it the very young servers complain and don't realize that's how you make money, or if management decided to disregard the wants of customers and servers on their own. It's hard to tell, but I don't go there anymore if I want to sit outside on a patio for beers.
(3)
John F.
This place is OK it has decent food and it's a good college hangout although it's a bit pricey for college students. I would say the Pizza is some where between a delivery pie and a good Italian pizza shop pie.
(3)
Sarah C.
Went to Pazzo's for the 2nd time last night. It is fine but nothing to write home about. We ordered the 4 cheese pizza, which had WAY too much cheese on it... like 4 times the normal amount of cheese. After 1 slice I was done with it and felt like I needed to shower from all of the grease. The plus to Pazzo's is the beer selection and TVs for sports watching.
(2)
Klint A.
I love Pazzo's!!! Years ago, I used to buy shoes there! Let me explain. Pazzo's occupies most of a large building near North Campus (UK), roughly on the corner of Euclid and Limestone. This building formerly housed "Court Sports", a local shoe store. I'm not sure when the change occured, but a few years ago...I walked down from my apartment to buy some shoes...and ended up with a pizza instead! The atmosphere at Pazzo's, for me, is perfect. The atmosphere is well done. Just dark enough, just enough bricks, just enough wood. It feels like it's been there longer than it has. The service is uhm...disinterested? But it's kind of what you'd expect/want at a pizza place by a college campus. Try the cheese calzone! The pizzas are great, the calzones are better. If you're on a budget, you can eat on the cheap during happy hour. Pretzels, cheese bread, pesto bread, etc. are all only a few bucks. Seriously though, get the cheese calzone! But the best part is the BEER. Pazzo's has one of the better beer lists in town, and a solid selection of draft beers. As mentioned in some other reviews...go on Wednesday with a friend. Get yourself a pitcher of a great beer and take home some pint glasses. I've tried a lot of beers for the first time at Pazzo's...and they all tasted perfect with a cheese calzone!
(5)
Ivy C.
Pretty decent pizza. Everything I have had here has been good. My favorite is, of course, the pizza, but the pretzels are delicious and so is the pesto bread. I can't say much for the service though. One time, a friend and I went to Pazzos to watch a football game. When we asked to be seated, the hostess was sort of annoyed/rude and made us wait 15 minutes even though there were clearly open tables in various places. Finally, we sat down at one of the bars by ourselves, because it appeared that the hostess had either forgotten about us or simply didn't care. Then, we were pretty much neglected by our waitress the entire night. We had to keep asking other servers if they could get things for us, refill our drinks, check on our food, etc. It wasn't even that busy - we went during mid-afternoon and the place was definitely not full. That was the worst service of all the times I've been to Pazzos, but to be honest, the service was never that great to start with. Wait times for food just depend on how lucky you are that day. I usually don't have too many complaints about the wait time for food, except for that awful day when my order of cheese pizza literally took a half hr to make. Overall, it's a decent local joint if you don't mind shitty service and good pizza.
(3)
Eric H.
Good pizza, great beer selection. the staff was friendly but a little slow, I had to wait 30 minutes for my appstizers. good atmosphere.
(4)
Brian R.
The big draw for Pazzo's is that they are located close to the University of Kentucky campus. They have pretty decent pizza (better can be had at Pucinni's Smiling Teeth) and a good selection of beer (better can be had at Marikka's on Southland). If you are willing to compromise a little on both to get the pizza and the beer together in one place, then you are all set with Pazzo's. Hit them on Wednesday to take part in "Pint Night" where you can get a collectable pint glass to take home with you when you buy a featured beer. It is a fun place and with good atmosphere, but loses a star for lacking the best pizza or beer in town.
(4)
Taylor B.
Good beer, decent pizza, HORRIBLE SERVICE, esp if they're busy. If they're not busy, it's almost always a good bet. If there's a wait, you might as well go somewhere else.
(4)
Erik W.
The pizza is pretty good and beer selection here is great, the service is the absolute pits. A first admonition: avoid this place like the plague on Wednesday nights -- Pint Night. If you can get early enough to get a table, they might tell you have to have 3/4 of your party, while you can see across the room that there is at least one table for 8 with a single person saving it. Then you might go to the bar and ask to "pre-order" the special and get the pint glasses to keep and they'll tell you can't do that, and then you wait there another 10 minutes to order another drink for now, and somebody else walks up and pre-orders the special and walks away with two glasses. Bottom line, no consistency whatsoever and it's uber frustrating. Even on other nights of the week, the service is slow and erratic. But, like I said, the pizza is pretty good. Personally, I stick to Mellow Mushroom which is a block and a half away.
(2)
Lester H.
Whenever I'm in Lex, I visit Pazzo's. For one, many of my friends have in the past and still do work here. Aside from that, the pesto bread is incredibly cheap, $3?, and the beer selection is quite nice for my Bluegrass homeland. TVs exist in abundance and are usually tuned into things I actually care about. Don't worry about the panhandlers. Give the poor saps a buck. If you ever end up in the Northeast or the West Coast, you'll appreciate the fact that you stuffed yourself full of food and caught a nice buzz for less than $30.
(4)
David T.
Came here for some beers, took a pizza to go. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive beer selection, especially the selection of Belgian Ales. The pizza was great, very tasty and very filling. Service was also great -- our waitress was great, very friendly and very helpful. There was a good crowd here on a Tuesday night, would definitely come back here again if in the area.
(4)
Luke B.
My favorite place to sit down, relax, and have some good beer and decent food. Damn good pizza, and excellent ever-changing beer list. Sunday afternoons (1-3?) are great to get a jumbo slice of cheese pizza for a little more than a buck, but it can be hard to get a table. Service isn't exactly the best, but the atmosphere makes up for it.
(5)
Calvin G.
I love pazzo's! Wendesday is pint night and starting at 6:30 (you'll have to get there about 5) if you order a pitcher of that week's beer you get two pint glasses to keep! Great pizza and toms of great beer!
(5)
Andrew N.
Love to hang out at this place. Just be sure to arrive before 5:30 on Thursdays to get a table. Ive had the subs and my wife had the pizza here and we both agree the food is great. Parking can be a pain at times, plus the "security" guard at the lot is sort of a jerk. Otherwise, great time
(4)
Ginny W.
Omg - the food here is to freakin die for. When its time to splurge for pizza - this is the place I save up for to go to when I travel to the KY. I get the white pizza. It is *the* best white pizza I have ever had. The beer list is mighty and the staff has always been really friendly.
(5)
Ross M.
I love pizza and i could do without this place. Atmosphere is good, it's an ok place to hang out with friends, but the pizza was unremarkable. It's one of the last two places I'd choose for pizza in Lexington.
(2)
Dave A.
Pazzo's is one of the best spots in Lexington! GREAT pizza and Calzones etc. and an incredible selection of beer on tap. I prefer to sit at the cozy bar downstairs, myself. They have a daily beer menu, though they usually have the same beer list with a small number of rotating taps. I believe they have around 30-35 beers on tap and a whole bunch of different bottles, though probably not as many as Marikka's!
(5)
pedro s.
Great pizza, great beer selection
(5)
Sam W.
Great pizza and baked subs, but the thing that makes this place a favorite is the barroom character and atmosphere... the beer tome is sorted by the country of origin and is astoundingly broad. Mostly I like the pizza and coziness, especially the bar downstairs. The crowds are thickest on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. A popular hangout for the students and teachers from nearby University of Kentucky, the booths are oversized and ideal for larger groups. Oh, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Watch out for the panhandlers, who will make up some crap about needing bus fare.
(5)
Nate H.
pizza is good and beer selection outstanding. best to be ready for a college crowd b/c it's pretty much on UK campus.
(4)
Jacob J.
This is just a very fun and fulfilling college pub. Is it fine dining? No but the pretzels are huge, soft, coated in butter and parmesan, and come apart like play-doh. Somehow (I know how: it's the butter and parmesan and luscious dough) it makes for a good meal of it's own. And that's if you order the small sample. The calzone is like the upgrade. Made with the same dough and coating, it's an appetite testing treat. They pack it with globs of cheese and meat. I had the funky chicken and it's big enough for two. But I had no regrets about finishing it on my own. What really makes this place stand out, though, is the beer selection. It refuses to settle for the college bastions of Miller and Coors. There's nearly 50 different craft and international beers on tap, I think. I went local, with two Kentucky choices, but there's a choice from coast to coast and hearty sampling of Belgians too. If that's not what sells all those basketball players in recruiting, I don't what does.
(4)
Jamie P.
IF Pazzo's were only a pizza joint, they'd get 2 stars. They get an extra one for one thing: Pint Night! The pizza just isn't good. Stiff, hard to eat crust, toppings that aren't the freshest. Plus, it takes up to an hour to get a pizza. I know this because I used to torture myself with their pizza when we'd go for Pint Night. That said, Pint Night kicks ass. I'd not trade another drinking event I've ever been to for Pint Night, where you get rad beer glasses just for ordering a pitcher of a different, wonderful craft beer every single week. In fact, when I first moved out of my parents' house, I had enough Pint Night glasses to fill my cabinet. A few broke, but they're still responsible for furnishing a good chunk of my glassware. So keep doing Pint Night, Pazzo's. Your pizza underwhelms but your beer is fan-freaking-tastic.
(3)
Mike M.
Seating and service was fast. Sari ordered a Pesto pizza, I ordered the Funky Chicken calzone. The drinks came quickly, food took about 25 minutes from placing the order. Sari's pizza was hot, fresh from the oven. My calzone, though was cold. Not good. Sari enjoyed her pizza, my calzone was just OK. The crust had a nice yeasty taste and was crispy on the outside, but the inside was doughy and seemed to be under baked. That could have been caused though by the calzone sitting around while Sari's pizza was baking. Prices are good, service (Morgan was our server) was great, food was mixed: 1 yay, 1 nay.
(3)
Jake R.
Where to start? We wanted to enjoy a UK basketball game, but it was busy so we went to their outdoor patio. Let's hit on the lowlights: they only had appetizers available at the bar, because apparently the outdoor patio isn't a part of the restaurant? Stupid. They had one bartender trying to fix drinks for 80+ people outside. I blame that on the owner, or whoever made the schedule. The food was good, but it took forever for is to actually be able to order. And when the food arrived (meatballs and cheese bread), we were told that there was no silverware. I had to actually go inside to get some, which took an extra 15 minutes. The service is poor. The drinks are poor. The food is okay. I wish I would have never made a trip here.
(1)
Steven W.
Been here many times...Good crowds, very casual, great pizza, and beer prices are very reasonable!
(4)
Marc J.
This is a fun pizza joint with an outstanding beer selection. For food, stick with the basics here: pizzas feature a chewy crust that's a bit doughy, with nice choices of fresh toppings. Pretzels are also pretty good: crunchy/chewy pizza dough slathered in butter and parm, served with a marinara sauce. Beer list includes a wide range of US microbrews, some interesting imported stuff, and your usual mass-produced brews if that's what you prefer. Service is friendly but maybe a little busy.
(4)
Randa E.
The pizza is just ok, but if you're going to Pazzo's you're going for one of two reasons... or maybe both:) 1. Watch the Cats 2. Awesome beer selection Pint Night is always fun, but get there early or plan on standing!
(4)
Amanda F.
Try the pretzels! They beat the ones in the mall! Soft warm dough covered in butter and Parmesan cheese there's nothing not to love about them. Their pizza list is quite extensive so you really can't go wrong with whatever pizza you order. If you are free try pint night. It can get quite crowded but it's a perfect chance to try different beers. Plus you get a souvenir glass to take home.
(5)
Adam B.
Get the funky chicken and any of a great assortment of beers. One of the few places near downtown that offers private lot parking. Can't go wrong.
(5)
Amanda B.
Okay so this is def a college bar/pizza joint which is cool but have low expectations for atmosphere. The wings were disgusting!!!!! Do not even bother...they are baked which is fantastic but they are straight out of a frozen bag and when you get them, the skin is just mushy fat!!! My husband loves wings and he couldn't eat them. On the other hand the pizza is fantastic!! Hubby had the meatball and I had the pazzo's calzone (tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms). Yum Yum Yum!!! Marinara that came with the calzone was awesome too! Skip the app's and dig into the pizza! Salads looked yummy, I peeked at a table next to us, looked fresh and delish!
(4)
Craig U.
First off, this place is huge. Was not expecting that at all. I guess I didn't realize that it stretched behind several buildings there on S. Limestone. Decor is all shiny dark-stained wood. Very professional looking bar in appearance with several rooms to walk through and too many beers on tap to count. My friend recommended that we try a Meatball Sub and a Funky Chicken Calzone. I also had seen good reviews of the Pretzel appetizer on Yelp as well, so I decided to give it a shot. For $3, why the heck not. First off, the pretzels are HUGE. Loaded with butter and parmesan, and a nice real-bread taste (as in, possibly from a starter?). Not really hard and crusty like you would expect, more like a misshapen bread stick. The pretzels are definitely worth your time. The Meatball Sub was pretty good. I enjoyed that the part of the loaf cut out to make room for the meatballs was on the side and turned into a kind of bread stick. The meatballs themselves were average size, but they were tasty. They didn't have that store-bought flavor, so you can tell someone actually made them by hand. The cheese was layered on THICK. So thick that when I ate the other half the next day for lunch, I temporarily mistook it for a piece of meat. A little pricey for $9, but definitely tasty. My wife got the Funky Chicken Calzone, and boy was I jealous. It was about the same cost as my meal, but it was ENORMOUS. And the bread tasted a lot like the same bread they used for the pretzels. The innards consisted of shredded chicken and the most delicious garlic-alfredo sauce I have tasted in my life. She ended up eating leftovers of this at work for the next two days. Not that eating those giant pretzels hurt on that respect either. Most of the folks around us were getting pizza by the slice, which looked pretty good. We just wanted to try the fancy stuff. Wait staff here can be a little slow getting things started, but once they arrived they were very attentive and efficient. One even changed the channel per a customer request. I was quite pleased, as it resulted in watching a hockey game instead of ESPN highlights. Overall, very delightful. This place will definitely have to go into my rotation.
(4)
Jesica L.
My coworkers told me this was the best pizza place in town. I was excited to try a new restaurant and my friends and I all ordered the lunch special- a jumbo slice of pizza and soup. My chili was ok. Nothing to write home about but not terrible either. We waited for longer than usual for our pizza slices and when they finally arrived I was so disappointed. The crust was almost see through thin, incredibly greasy and not good at all! It was so thin I could not pick it up to eat. The only reason I ate it was because I was so hungry not because it was particularly edible. On top of it all, they added generous amounts of Parmesan cheese all over my pizza which I do not like. I tried scraping off the Parmesan cheese and soaking up the grease the entire time. Terrible pizza + slow service means I won't come back here again.
(2)
Sable B.
I wouldn't say my experience was wonderful or awful, it truly was a-ok. Nothing crazy to rave about. And maybe that's because I am jaded by delicious pizza offerings in Cincy, such as A Tavola and Adriatico's. And craft beer selections in Cincy are things I've never heard of and haven't tried yet, while Pazzo's offered a lot of things I have seen and tried. The service was fine, the pizza was good, and the beers I had were enjoyable.
First visit here and the pizza was pretty good. The pretzel appetizer was great. A cheese dipping sauce would have made it perfect. The pretzels are huge and the small order has three of them. They didn't have a kids menu, but I guess since it's in the middle of UK's campus that would be expected. It's a great location for the college and is a great spot for college kids to hang out and watch games.
(4)
Heather P.
I can't believe that I waited so long to discover this place. The home and copy right holder of the name "Pint Night", each week they feature a different pint special. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't really elaborate about the hundreds of different beers that they seem to offer.Yes, it's close to campus and yes there are a lot of younger people, but I didn't feel out of place because there is a mixture of people. The pizza was excellent...very filling. The only downside is, the parking. They have a very small lot, once that's full, you have to park on the street. The are a lot of surrounding hot spots so the street parking is scarce too.
(4)
Jagger R.
I visited Pazzo's while visiting my sister at the University of Kentucky, and it was delicious. I do not think I've ever tasted better cheese sticks at any other pizza place! I shared a small pizza with my sister and it was awesome! It was seasoned with Parmesan, cooked to PERFECTION, and was given to us quickly. Along with Parkette Drive-In, this is a great restaurant to visit while in Lexington!
(5)
Meredith A.
Great beer selection - Kentucky Ale was the go-to given the circumstance. Pizza was delicious and the "small" size was plenty big for two people. The pretzels are a perfect choice for your appetizer and are much bigger than expected. Price was decent but expect to pay $4.50+ for one beer.
(4)
Olwen C.
Beer selection is one of the best in town. Food is good, but every time I've been here I've either had something wrong with my order or it took a LONG time to be served. Could be great, but they have some staff training to do.
(4)
Jon H.
Good food, but bad service. I would have rate this place higher even with the poor service, but it was beyond that. The bartender was rude. I walked in with a group of friends and the guy working behind the bar asked us why we were sitting down (in a very crapy tone) we said because we wanted a beer. He got even crappier and told us he was working on closing down and we should leave. Keep in mind they were still serving other guest around us. I didn't stick around, due to the attitude. I've gone back to get take out and food was good, but I can't take RUDE.
(2)
Andrew Y.
3-stars, A-OK.This local pub is a decent hangout. They have the atmosphere, the patio, and enough of a diversity in beers. Fun place to have a few drinks, pizza and calzones are fairly decent. Food won't blow you away, but the environment is worthy of 3-stars.
(3)
Chandler L.
A downtown classic! A ton of space, craft beer and great pizza. If you are ever on campus make sure to stop by and grab a slice.
(5)
Jack T.
Not really sure what to say when it comes to this restaurant. I've been here six times and three of those times was some of the best pizza I've ever had and the other three times was maybe the worst. Long story short, if the pizza is not BURNT (which it apparently is HALF the time), the pizza is great.
(3)
Thomas I.
Pint night here is cool. Just another fun thing to do in Lexington. But holy crap, what consistently TERRIBLE service. The hostess and wait staff seem completely disinterested all of the time. It's a busy spot downtown on a college campus and it's likely that all of the staff are college students but they do an awful job of making you feel welcome. The food is just okay. Overall pretty meh. Fix the service and it could be amazing.
(2)
Derek L.
The beer selection here is awesome! Pizza is solid! The place is huge with a really cool atmosphere! Don't come here if you are in a hurry though. Every time I go it takes over an hour to get my pizza. But they have fantastic beers to make the wait more enjoyable!
(4)
M R.
I love this place and have since I was in lex for college. I know there are what some may call "deficiencies", but I think the trick is to take the joint for what it is. Service can be slow, but the food is awesome and the beer selection can't be beat. I will always come back when I am in town.
(4)
Chelsea L.
Great food! Service is consistent; yeah they're not overly attentive but they have three floors + a patio and one kitchen. Considering the volume of guests id say they do alright. Just know if you go here, be ready to indulge. Dieters beware, pretzels be comin for ya! (They're awesome with ranch!)
(5)
Chad C.
Love this place. Pizza by the slice and beer by the pint or picher. Great atmosphere at a great price. I need a pazzo day. Wed Night is Pint night where they celebrate a specific beer on tap and you get free mugs with every pitcher ordered.
(5)
Susan B.
Great beer list is not enough guys. Wrong drink order , double meat meant no visible meat, server was too busy chatting with her friend at the bar to check on things, manager rather than apologizing decided to debate things with us. Very disappointed. Won't be back there.
(1)
Robert N.
As a supporter of local bistros/cafes/college pizza hangouts, I'm usually a big fan of Pazzos. Their mega meat pizza is the peanut butter to my goldfish. The issue has become the service. A college age woman had the genius idea to not bring a notepad to write out our order. She then decided after we had already ordered to get the pad and make us repeat everything. With great pizza and dookie service I've decided to give Pazzos three stars.
(3)
Kandice G.
I found this place while working at UK. It is close to campus and a great time if alone or with a group. I don't think an explanation is needed for a group. As for alone, the atmosphere was perfect for me while writing.
(5)
Tom D.
I have enjoyed their pizza selection several times and the beer selection is great. Beer menu includes descriptions to inspire trying something new each time. They used to have the ability to buy a "flight" of 6 samplers but I was disappointed to find this discontinued during my most recent visit. TIP: don't let them seat you in the lowest level as the low ceiling makes it virtually impossible to carry on a conversation without leaning in close. I was at a table with 8 people and could really only talk (yell) with those people sitting at my end of the table.
(3)
Maggie T.
Always very packed. The pizza is good for KY- and they have a lot of different choices. Awesome place to watch the game. Just a rowdy place overall, which isn't surprising because it's on campus. If you watch any of the Sweet 16 games there, get there EARLY otherwise you can't get in.
(3)
Joanne A.
Great pizza and beer menu. Only downside is the service can be questionable. We've had great service but usually it's pretty bad. It's all college students and most don't care about the customers.
(4)
Rick F.
It took me three visits to this place to finally get a bartender's attention. The two times I could not get service I just walked over to Joe Bs for some average Pizza. Lexington does not know crap about pizza because they have never been to Italy, France or Spain and had the real thing. Pazzo's pizza must be covered in liquid smoke I did not see any wood fired ovens but even with the wood fired ovens of Europe there is not a smoke flavor. Also noticed half the beer drawn at Pazzo's goes down the drain. Had to tell the bartender to tilt the beer glass and pull back slowly on the tap. I hate a big head of foam and I hate to see beer go down the drain. Hope Tom trains his pourers better in the future they are costing him a bundle.
(2)
Allison R.
Great specialty pizzas, lots of brews to choose from, casual, laid-back. No complaints here. Had The Great White pizza and loved it. Lots of outdoor seating for the warmer months too.
(5)
Ceno E.
Has some pretty great tasting beers and the food isn't that bad either. They also have pint nights to help introduce people to some newer beers. They also several televisions for those interested in watching a game while eating.
(4)
Jon T.
Good beer, decent food - great if you're into the bar scene.
(3)
David S.
Came here for the 'infamous' pint night. We got a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted and two pint glasses for way less than the cost of a pitcher at most other places. Pizza was good, menu is reminiscent of Mellow Mushroom to me. I had a calzone and some pretzels, both of which I liked (and I was extremely full). Companion had a sandwich, and while she liked it she would not recommend getting a sandwich.
(5)
Kevin S.
The food and beer selections here are decent as I've never been disappointed in either. I wouldn't say they are out of this world but I would say 4 on beer selection, 3 on food, and a 1 on service. When my wife and I have gone service has been okay but it seems that if you have a group of more than 4 it grinds to a halt. The last time we went was with a group of 8 and it took over an hour before everyone got their food.
(2)
Dan G.
$12 pitchers of Alpha King?!? Surely, you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I remember this corner nearby campus for the epic dive of Tolly Ho and the drunken debauchery that we always seemed to find ourselves in at the U Club. Pretty hard to improve upon the Tolly Ho legend, but Pazzo's is well on its way. I'm a beer guy and I was pleased to see a most excellent selection on tap. I don't know if everyone appreciates the options that Pazzo's has for you. Pitchers? Check. A slew of Germans? Check. Some of the Midwest's finest craft beers like Bell's, Founders and Three Floyds? Check. I've only had the pizza here, and it was quite good. Whole wheat crust, cheesy. Pazzo's has parking around back and they've got a huge space. There are several different bars and patio options all around. I could see many late nights hanging out here having pizza and working through the taps. Everything is also very reasonably priced. Three pizzas and two pitchers was maybe $60.
(5)
Jessica S.
I love pint night; pizza by the slice; the extensive beer selection and everything else about this place. When I lived in Lexington this was the place for a good beer and slice. Anytime I travel back home I hit up Pazzo's.
(5)
Payge C.
The pizza is probably the only tolerable pizza in Lexington but the service is awesome.
(4)
Leslie V.
Food is good but the service at lunch can be slow. Don't go there if you are in a hurry!
(4)
Hua Z.
Food is just ok! Not impressive. But, the services are horrible! Takes one hour to get my food!!!
(2)
Kim C.
the pizza was good. I had a Hawaiian Slice of Pizza...the crust was crispy and good. the service could be better. it took over half an hour to get our food. vibe is dark and depressing to me.
(3)
Lee P.
The food was good, priced fair that went well with the excellent selection of beers. They have lots of fun events during the week. The new patio looks nice but it was a bit cold to eat there when i was there. The lay out is a bit confusing, I'm guessing they have expanded a few times since opening. Definitely has a fun atmosphere though. Seems to be busy every night.
(4)
Allison R.
Great specialty pizzas, lots of brews to choose from, casual, laid-back. No complaints here. Had The Great White pizza and loved it. Lots of outdoor seating for the warmer months too.
(5)
Ceno E.
Has some pretty great tasting beers and the food isn't that bad either. They also have pint nights to help introduce people to some newer beers. They also several televisions for those interested in watching a game while eating.
(4)
Jon T.
Good beer, decent food - great if you're into the bar scene.
(3)
David S.
Came here for the 'infamous' pint night. We got a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted and two pint glasses for way less than the cost of a pitcher at most other places. Pizza was good, menu is reminiscent of Mellow Mushroom to me. I had a calzone and some pretzels, both of which I liked (and I was extremely full). Companion had a sandwich, and while she liked it she would not recommend getting a sandwich.
(5)
Kevin S.
The food and beer selections here are decent as I've never been disappointed in either. I wouldn't say they are out of this world but I would say 4 on beer selection, 3 on food, and a 1 on service. When my wife and I have gone service has been okay but it seems that if you have a group of more than 4 it grinds to a halt. The last time we went was with a group of 8 and it took over an hour before everyone got their food.
(2)
Dan G.
$12 pitchers of Alpha King?!? Surely, you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I remember this corner nearby campus for the epic dive of Tolly Ho and the drunken debauchery that we always seemed to find ourselves in at the U Club. Pretty hard to improve upon the Tolly Ho legend, but Pazzo's is well on its way. I'm a beer guy and I was pleased to see a most excellent selection on tap. I don't know if everyone appreciates the options that Pazzo's has for you. Pitchers? Check. A slew of Germans? Check. Some of the Midwest's finest craft beers like Bell's, Founders and Three Floyds? Check. I've only had the pizza here, and it was quite good. Whole wheat crust, cheesy. Pazzo's has parking around back and they've got a huge space. There are several different bars and patio options all around. I could see many late nights hanging out here having pizza and working through the taps. Everything is also very reasonably priced. Three pizzas and two pitchers was maybe $60.
(5)
Jessica S.
I love pint night; pizza by the slice; the extensive beer selection and everything else about this place. When I lived in Lexington this was the place for a good beer and slice. Anytime I travel back home I hit up Pazzo's.
(5)
Payge C.
The pizza is probably the only tolerable pizza in Lexington but the service is awesome.
(4)
Leslie V.
Food is good but the service at lunch can be slow. Don't go there if you are in a hurry!
(4)
Hua Z.
Food is just ok! Not impressive. But, the services are horrible! Takes one hour to get my food!!!
(2)
Kim C.
the pizza was good. I had a Hawaiian Slice of Pizza...the crust was crispy and good. the service could be better. it took over half an hour to get our food. vibe is dark and depressing to me.
(3)
Lee P.
The food was good, priced fair that went well with the excellent selection of beers. They have lots of fun events during the week. The new patio looks nice but it was a bit cold to eat there when i was there. The lay out is a bit confusing, I'm guessing they have expanded a few times since opening. Definitely has a fun atmosphere though. Seems to be busy every night.
(4)
David R.
Barreling down the highway at 85mph, I prefer to keep my full attention on the road. So, I chose Pazzo's because it was the first result for "Pizza" in "Lexington, KY" on my occasionally handy Yelp mobile app. And from what I have seen of Lexington Yelp, 21 reviews indicates a very popular place indeed. I also liked the choice because the map showed it in the middle of town, and if I were only going to stop long enough for dinner, I wanted at least to see some of the city on my way in and my way out. Convenient parking lot right across the alley? Great. Lots of patio seating? Also nifty. Although, I had spent most of the day in the sun and preferred a seat inside. They showed me to a relatively quiet corner in one of the side rooms, where there are also a couch and some easy chairs in addition to the round two-tops. They had calzones on the menu, so that was a lock. I wanted to try the pizza too, but they don't serve single slices at dinnertime. Appetizers were half-price until 7, so I ordered the (already cheap at $2.95) pretzels. This was listed as "(3)" but I did not expect three full-sized pretzels. Oops. Well, I ate all three--they were damn good, brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with parmesan, and served with marinara on the side. Think about that deal, by the way--$1.48 for a pretzel appetizer that could easily be shared by two people who just want something to nibble on while they drink beer and watch basketball. That said, I should have had a salad instead, because the calzone (pepperoni and green peppers) was a good size, and very doughy. I did finish it all, because I wasn't in a hurry, and it really was delicious. If this were a Chicago joint, I would slot them somewhere around #4 or #5 on my calzone list. The peppers were fresh and slightly crunchy, and the presence of ricotta did not diminish my enjoyment. Solid beer list--about three to four dozen drafts. My waitress was a little stiff at first but warmed up considerably. She kept coming by to check on me even after it was obvious that I wasn't going to order anything else and was merely struggling to fit everything into my gluttonous stomach. Final tally--$18 for two beers, the half-price pretzels, and the calzone with two ingredients. I love travelling to small cities.
(4)
Gail B.
A late dinner here, it wasn't very busy but our service was terrible. Our server started by apologizing for taking so long to greet us. We placed our drink orders and she rolled her eyes when someone In our group couldn't decide on one of the vast selection of micro- brewed beers. She offered very little help in narrowing down the selection After waiting a long long time to get our drinks she came back one drink short cause she forgot what the order had been. Maybe write it down next time? The pizza took forever (big surprise) and when she brought a salad out early , no silverware was provided. Most of our group enjoyed the pizza, a Funky Chicken and Bootlegger pizza. More so the bootlegger. But I'm more of a traditionalist, I missed the red sauce and traditional toppings. I personally would try that if I ever came back. I didn't want to name the server specifically because she may have just been having a bad night, but it really did effect how I rated this review.
(2)
Josh M.
Went here before Hugh ass. Could not get anyone to wait on me in two places inside. Moved on as I wanted a beer. Was a Sunday but open, I was not the only one saying things, just the only one that decided to move on then wait. Not sure I will go back anytime soon.
(2)
Gordon F.
Excellent pizza here at a reasonable price, much better than one might expect from a pub-style restaurant. The selection of Belgian beers is way above average, make sure you at least get a Leffe or maybe a more expensive Belgian beer like a Delirium Tremens with your pizza while you're there. The pesto bread appetizer was delicious and was so filling we were hardly even hungry by the time our pizza arrived. The decor is awesome and the location is great. Just an overall great experience here. Note: I probably wouldn't bother coming here during a UK game, it's probably total chaos.
(5)
Ashley G.
Best pizza in Lexington!! The pretzels appetizer is delicious. I am normally not a fan of BBQ pizza, but their BBQ Hawaiian is delicious!!!! I've had a variety of their pizza's and all have been spectacular! The only suggestion I make is to go with friends and get a whole pie, their individual slices are meh! Maybe they aren't fresh, I dunno, but you can taste a huge difference from a whole pie to a slice. Also the beer selection is amazing! Basically any beer you want, you can find here.
(5)
S C.
For a college bar, the food was decent. Great service, too. Ordered chili and greek salad. Both were fresh. Big wide screen TV. Good place to watch a game and drink beer. Very wide selection.
(3)
Ryan N.
This place has a pretty sweet atmosphere. It looks like a small place from the street, but it actually has lots of space inside. There are multiple levels to this place (stairs leading to each). Huge beer selection. Multiple bars. The pizza is okay. It's better than any other pizza I've had in Lexington, but I haven't tried many places yet. Decently priced. Pretzels are good.
(4)
Jeff J.
I had read many reviews about Pazzo's and was eager to try the pizza. After placing our drink order it took early 15 minutes before our waitress returned to take an appetizer order. We ordered the pesto bread which was basically a hogtie bun you could get for any grocery store wit pesto and cheese....sadly it was very forgettable. We had to flag the waitress down again to get drink refills and tell her we wanted to place an order. She told us that she was sorry she wasn't giving us very much attention. We placed and order for a large cheese pizza. 49 minutes later after several ho-hum promises that it would be out in just a second our pizza arrived. The high hopes and long wait left us equally disappointed in the food as we were with the service. The crust was over cooked and dry. While we eagerly sought out our waitress for a drink refill we were encouraged about the future of our country while listening the the blabbering of some summer schooler who explained to her bored co-eds how 911 was planned by George Bush. In the end at least our hour and a half dining experience left us with a laugh. As for the food, it was as dismal as the service. Would not even give this place a second chance.
(1)
Chris P.
Not bad! Good beer selection and the service was slow but they were kinda nice. Didnt get food but the beers were moving. Nice location right next to so many places to eat.
(3)
Chris C.
Now look here. I write this review with extremely biased opinions, since this has basically been my second home / place of refuge for a good part of the past decade. Not only have i become friendly with bartenders and wait staff, but I have had numerous business and social meetings which have resulted in a ton of memories. That being said, let's get down to brass tacks. The pizza is good. Pesto Bread is really good. Beer selection is great, and the atmosphere is good for what it is. You can be a rowdy college student, a twentysomething, a professor or a family of 6 and come here and be happy. You could also be that same myriad of demographics and come here and be mad. This place can be anywhere from family friendly to downright chaotic. All depends on timing and UK sporting events. Wednesday from 6 til 10 is going to be packed because of pint night. All things considered, this is a great pizza joint with a great beer selection - the best in the downtown area for a restaurant - and it could be argued that Pazzo's (and Tom, its owner) helped spawn the craft beer movement in Lexington. Get some pie, don't get in a hurry, and have a pint or three. It's a great place....just be patient and kind to the wait staff. If you're in a hurry, go to pizza hut.
(4)
Megan C.
I love me some Pazzos. They have delicious pizza (probably my favorite in Lexington), and they've recently expanded to an additional room and patio which really helps with the crowd, especially on pint night. They've got 40 beers on tap at any given time in addition to a full service bar. Pint night, Wednesdays, always packs a crowd, but it's definitely an event worth checking out. The beer of the night comes with souvenir pint glasses that you get to take home with you. There's a really fun, pub-y atmosphere, and they always play Kentucky games. (of course they do, being three steps away from campus and not playing Kentucky games would be a new level of blasphemy). Service is usually slow, but for me, the pizza makes up for it.
(4)
Olivia W.
I have come and gone from Pazzo's often. I enjoy the patio, the beer selection and the atmosphere. It is laid back and chill. However I do not think their food is that great. It is fine, not amazing but not horrible. Every time I eat there I having a feeling of "eh." I have started to use it as a place to just drink.
(3)
S W.
Great pizza and calzone. The services less than friendly, perhaps normal for a college pizza joint. The beer cheese appetizer was a bit disappointing, but the pizza made up for it.
(4)
Brian S.
Ate here many times while in college. Can be very busy on Pint Night or during games, but there are times when the place will be dead. The pretzels are a definite must-have, and their pizza is great. If you're seated upstairs, you can even see the mixer they use to make the crust (no frozen dough here). Beer selection is enormous.
(4)
Ryan P.
Pazzo's is by far my favorite place for beer in the entire state of Kentucky. With 45 beers on tap, and well over 100 more in bottles, it certainly is a beer mecca. All beers are served in clean appropriate glassware, and the bar staff are knowledgeable about the beers they serve. Prices on beer are certainly fair as well. I also love Pazzo's food. The pizzas are amazing, especially the funky chicken. Usually when I'm here though, I stick with appetizers. During happy hour, they're half off, so it's a great time to enjoy an order of pesto bread, wings, or some of their fantastic pretzels. The best and worst time to come to Pazzo's is on Wednesdays for pint night. Buy a pitcher of the special beer, and take two glasses home. From the 160 or so beer glasses in my collection, I bet at least half came from pint night trips to Pazzo's when I was in college. The only bad part is that they've become super popular over the years, especially when UK is in session, so you must get there super early and be prepared for less than stellar service from the overworked staff. Some pint nights, you may not even be able to get a table for 2+ hours (happened to me once). For the most part, the staff are friendly, although I've had a few that weren't so pleasant over the years. Tom the owner is a great guy, so if you see him, chat him up. He runs a great business and I'll always be a regular, even though I live almost an hour away!
(5)
John W.
Absolutely the worst service in Lexington. The McDonalds down the street is five star compared to this. What a joke. 45 minutes for two pizza slices. Seated in the dark when we requested the mostly empty patio. Manager refused to speak with me. Don't waste your time here. You can get pizza, pasta, and beer anywhere. Mellow Mushroom is right around the corner. This was our fourth and last visit. Five stars for having the same level of non service every time. Did I mention that in all that time we were served NO food???
(2)
Mike W.
Pazzo's, along with Tally's and Henry Earl, are Lexington institutions. Mister Earl probably has not had the chance to partake in Pazzo's awesomeness, which is really a shame. Now, I know I'm going to get lambasted for this, but I don't think Pazzo's pizza is anything fantastic. I'm not going to say it's bad, because it's not - but people seem to rant and rave about it like its the best thing to happen to pizza since cheese. Pizza is a fantastic accompaniment to beer though, so even if its only 70% awesome on its own it will taste amazing. And oh, the beer selection. Pazzo's has one of the more impressive beer selections in the area. You can almost certainly find one, if not dozens, of varieties you've never had before. If you manage to make it during happy hour or Pint Night, you can have your fill for a relatively inexpensive price. Sadly Pazzo's is not without it's downsides. While parking is usually fine on weekdays, on weekends it can be a bit of a joke. If you live on campus, you're better off walking. Even when it's not busy, the service at Pazzo's is somewhat slow. I guess that's not so bad if you and friends are enjoying a beer and shooting the breeze, but if you came there just to eat dinner you will have a slightly than longer wait. Also, with a billion TVs and a billion college kids crammed in, the place can get a little loud. They have a patio outside that fits the bill if you're looking to have a quieter evening, but it is abhorrently hot on a summer day - it's more like a greenhouse. Ahh, college!
(4)
Tastybeverages T.
I have to say I love this place. I have been going there for years and have almost every selection on the menu. All in all, the pizzas and sandwiches are great, and the beer selection is top notch. My only problem has always been a problem, which is that they have sketchy service from time to time. I have come to expect it, and the beer takes the pain away.
(4)
Eli S.
Dear Pazzo's, My brother and I visited you from Columbus about 7 mos ago and we still talk about you and miss you. Your pizzas are what dreams are made of and I cherish the glasses I bought from you to this day. The service was outstanding ( I know, I was a server for 12 years ). Thank you for giving me such wonderful, lasting, tasty memories. I hope to see you soon. When anyone asks me where the best pizza place is around here I tell them that if they don't mind driving 3 hours, they can have the best pizza they have or will ever taste. I show them my glasses as proof. I may make a trip down there just to see you and drive back. - Eli
(5)
Dean S.
good not
(1)
Mike R.
Total failure in service, sorry. The food was ordered properly, but the kitchen messed up the order and produced the wrong food. The server said he was sorry, and that it would be out in 7 minutes. After 20 minutes, the food came and the server made no apologies. It was lunch rush and I had a meeting to get to so asked for a box and was give a tiny box. I had to point out to the server that our food to go would not even fit in that box. I said that I would like a check and a discount since it took over 1 hour to get one medium pizza and he seemed put out and said it would take a while as he would have to get a manager. A restaurant has to deal with problems, and good restaurants know how to do this. Pazzo seemed to have no way to deal with this with generally horrible service and had no available manager. I did not see a manager anywhere so perhaps the serve was correct. No apology, no compensation, and a really bad attitutde. Horrible service, wont be heading there any tie soon.
(1)
Andrew K.
Pazzos Special pizza - bunch of meat and a few good veggies, is definitely worth a try if you find yourself at Pazzo's. I really liked the pretzels (breadsticks) and marinara sauce. Our waiter was great Atmosphere was laid back Lots of tvs And they have decent parking as well! The main downside is the noise level here. Certainly not a quiet destination.
(4)
adam p.
Hit Pazzo's up for happy hour, they have it 7 days a week from 4-7. Pretzels are great and 3 huge ones are a mere buck and a half, gota love college towns! Also the beer selections is massive with 15ish on tap and about 100 in the bottle. If you can put up with the ditzy college kids serving the food its a true winner! The big patio and free parking in a busy area was also a plus!
(4)
Jon M.
Being from Seattle, I may not be the foremost authority on what most consider to be "good" pizza. I see what the purists like. I see what the new-agey pizza people like in places like CPK. My first visit to Pazzo's came in the summer of 2008, when I visited Lexington for the first time with a very good friend who lived in Louisville. Being a UK grad, she immediately recommended it. And I fell in love. With the pizza, of course. It was everything I ever wanted. Hand-made. Perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings, not going overboard on the non-traditional toppings. My friend, Melissa, had ordered a calzone, which I then ate when she was out of town for a few days. :D The next time I went was about a week later with our friend, Kristie. Going here was a reward for helping her out. And in addition to the pizza, I delved into the beer selection. Let me tell you, it is tough picking a beer from a fairly large selection is tough. Aside from the at-times-slow service (lunch hour, happy hour), this is an amazing place. It has everything I want in a pizza place....good food, good beer, good people.
(5)
Mike D.
Beer List - Uh MAZIN Pizza - stupore (amazing) Service - worse than an Applebee's, and probably stoned (oh, college...) not necessarily the servers though. like anywhere it depends. Decor- the front bar is great, the new addition smells like a frat house and has the gross wet floors to boot Pint Night - a titanic waste of time, stay away. This place is a total Jeckyll & Hyde. I want to give it 4 stars but when most of the clientele are obnoxious frat boys and most of the service is comatose at best it makes it difficult.
(3)
Morgan M.
Before the comments of hatred ensure, let me start by saying I'm a true blue Lexingtonian and a UK grad. Yesterday I patronized Pazzo's for at least the bazillionth time in my 8 years of living here, and had by far the worst experience yet. I say "yet" because in my experience Pazzo's certainly does not pride itself on service, and why would they? Clearly they are the niche go-to for a second-to-none selection of pizza and beers (read the other reviews...they are 99.9% focused on the product, not the service), and being that the staff appear largely strung out, they don't seem to care. My party of 5 arrived for dinner to a not very crowded restaurant, just in time for happy hour. A couple people ordered drinks, and a couple appetizers were ordered as well. 45 MINUTES LATER I pulled our server aside (who had come by once to refill drinks) and (at a loss for words at the negligence of the situation) bluntly asked "Where are our appetizers?" Reacting as if I'd slapped her across the face, she offered to check, returning moments later to apologetically inform us that they'd been taken to the wrong table (and she never noticed until I brought it to her attention???) and would be taken off the bill. Another 15 minutes later, we finally had our appetizers. An exhausting 20 minutes later, we had our food, except that the medium pizza myself and a friend were splitting had somehow been misinterpreted as a small. How this is plausible when the other two pizzas at the table were ordered and delivered correctly as mediums is beyond me. This was remedied by second small pizza packaged to-go. Whew! I was so relieved to leave that I was almost not annoyed by the parking Nazi out back, as he was willing to accept our pizza boxes as evidence of patronage rather than making us dig out receipts. The moral of the story is, low expectations lead to pleasant experiences.
(2)
Brad F.
How do I begin to describe Pazzo's... It's more of a state of mind than a restaurant. Big Tom the owner likes to the provider of lexington's largest beer menu especially weighted with Belgian superior ales. He even takes frequent vacations to Belgium, which really reflects the mood of this place. Now the food is your pretty general pizza and heavy bar food. Nothing wild, but goes down well with just about any ale or lager you picked from a list of ~140. Here's the rules if you want to dine or drink at Pazzo's: Don't go on a Wednesday after 5 if you don't want to play/fight the Pint Night game(you'll have an atrocious time getting anything from behind the bar.) If you want to play the game, get there around 430 and secure a table and never waste an opportunity to send your waiter to the bar. Cheers!
(4)
Sean B.
As mentioned, great selection of beer on tap and better than average pizza. Big ass pretzels are also very popular here. A great place to watch the game or have some beers with friends.
(3)
Talon H.
On paper, whole grain pizza may not sound to appealing to most people. Give it a chance and you just may be surprised.
(4)
Jeff R.
You can order a slice of cheese pizza and wait twenty minutes. Cheese pizza. And why do they brush butter over the pizza? At least the beer list is decent. I had Alpha King on tap last time I was there. That alone gets Pazzo's a star.
(3)
Jenny H.
Good pizza, good beer, reasonable prices.
(4)
Kalie B.
Tasty hoagies! Great beer menu! Service was slow but it was opening weekend at Keenland and it was packed. Would definitely come back and try more of their menu on a slower night.
(4)
Landon C.
I don't know that I've ever had good service here. Definitely a college-town pizzeria. But the pizza is great, and though it's a tad expensive it's always worth it. Don't expect good service and you can't go wrong here.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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Josh S.
GREAT PLACE! good prices, this place is huge, lots of room but no no pool table
(4)Lester H.
Whenever I'm in Lex, I visit Pazzo's. For one, many of my friends have in the past and still do work here. Aside from that, the pesto bread is incredibly cheap, $3?, and the beer selection is quite nice for my Bluegrass homeland. TVs exist in abundance and are usually tuned into things I actually care about. Don't worry about the panhandlers. Give the poor saps a buck. If you ever end up in the Northeast or the West Coast, you'll appreciate the fact that you stuffed yourself full of food and caught a nice buzz for less than $30.
(4)David T.
Came here for some beers, took a pizza to go. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive beer selection, especially the selection of Belgian Ales. The pizza was great, very tasty and very filling. Service was also great -- our waitress was great, very friendly and very helpful. There was a good crowd here on a Tuesday night, would definitely come back here again if in the area.
(4)Luke B.
My favorite place to sit down, relax, and have some good beer and decent food. Damn good pizza, and excellent ever-changing beer list. Sunday afternoons (1-3?) are great to get a jumbo slice of cheese pizza for a little more than a buck, but it can be hard to get a table. Service isn't exactly the best, but the atmosphere makes up for it.
(5)Daniel F.
Pazzo's is the place that I reccommend to out-of-towners. It is one of the few special places in Lexington. Yes, the beer list is amazing and the best in Lexington. However, the pretzel appitizer and Funky Chicken Pizza will keep you coming back. The service can be slow and inconsistent, however the atmosphere, location, pizza and beer more than make up for it. As a Lexington local, it is my restaurant of choice. A must for any Lexitonian or guest to the bluegrass.
(5)Cinimod S.
The servers here are the best in town, although they usually seem pretty stressed, this place is usually packed. The beer selection is what draws the crowds. The pizza at mellow mushroom is better but more expensive, so theres the trade off. The pesto bread is well worth it. I wish they had more South American and Asian beers. Its heavily European on the menu there.
(4)Camille G.
Simple pizza and burgers joint with chicken fingers, etc. Doesn't really have anything particular to recommend it, and like anything around UK, difficult parking.
(2)Daniel R.
The pizza is good, but not an authentic Neapolitan style if that is what you are are looking for. The daily slices will keep you full as you enjoy basically any kind of beer you could possible want. The pretzels are also a great way to soak up some of that alcohol. This is a must try near UK's campus.
(3)Dave B.
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great beer selection. Excellent pizza & pretzels.
(5)Jennifer S.
The beer list is freaking intense! I wish I could have one of every single kind! But then I'd be poor and probably be in the hospital. Anyway, this is definitely the places to bring beer connoisseurs. Pizza is pretty dang good. Staff are always busy so it takes a while to get things rolling, but if you have lots of time, it's worth it.
(4)Tiffany B.
Based on the food alone this place is 5 stars, but service is almost always crazy-slow, even when they aren't busy. With that said, the pizza really is great (Pazzos Pesto is my fave) and plenty of beers on tap! Great place to watch the big game or chill on the patio. Also, they have $1.25 jumbo slices of cheese pizza on Sundays for the lunch crowd.
(3)Ed S.
Great beer, but unbelievably bad service. Whoever staffs this restaurant is either high on drugs or just plain stupid. The food is OK. The pizza crust is too salty and is hard usually. The toppings are OK. Again the beer is great. If you don't mind horrible service as a punitive price to pay for good beer then Pazzo's will be fine. If, however, you have or the party you're with have a shred of class and/or dignity, then you will be very upset with the staff. *UPDATE* The service is getting better. It appears that the slobs that looked hung over and jonesing for another fix have been booted and replaced. Most of the servers and bartenders are nice, clean people now. Pazzo's has made it so that you cannot order beers from two of the three bars when you are on the patio. I'm not sure it the very young servers complain and don't realize that's how you make money, or if management decided to disregard the wants of customers and servers on their own. It's hard to tell, but I don't go there anymore if I want to sit outside on a patio for beers.
(3)John F.
This place is OK it has decent food and it's a good college hangout although it's a bit pricey for college students. I would say the Pizza is some where between a delivery pie and a good Italian pizza shop pie.
(3)Sarah C.
Went to Pazzo's for the 2nd time last night. It is fine but nothing to write home about. We ordered the 4 cheese pizza, which had WAY too much cheese on it... like 4 times the normal amount of cheese. After 1 slice I was done with it and felt like I needed to shower from all of the grease. The plus to Pazzo's is the beer selection and TVs for sports watching.
(2)Klint A.
I love Pazzo's!!! Years ago, I used to buy shoes there! Let me explain. Pazzo's occupies most of a large building near North Campus (UK), roughly on the corner of Euclid and Limestone. This building formerly housed "Court Sports", a local shoe store. I'm not sure when the change occured, but a few years ago...I walked down from my apartment to buy some shoes...and ended up with a pizza instead! The atmosphere at Pazzo's, for me, is perfect. The atmosphere is well done. Just dark enough, just enough bricks, just enough wood. It feels like it's been there longer than it has. The service is uhm...disinterested? But it's kind of what you'd expect/want at a pizza place by a college campus. Try the cheese calzone! The pizzas are great, the calzones are better. If you're on a budget, you can eat on the cheap during happy hour. Pretzels, cheese bread, pesto bread, etc. are all only a few bucks. Seriously though, get the cheese calzone! But the best part is the BEER. Pazzo's has one of the better beer lists in town, and a solid selection of draft beers. As mentioned in some other reviews...go on Wednesday with a friend. Get yourself a pitcher of a great beer and take home some pint glasses. I've tried a lot of beers for the first time at Pazzo's...and they all tasted perfect with a cheese calzone!
(5)Ivy C.
Pretty decent pizza. Everything I have had here has been good. My favorite is, of course, the pizza, but the pretzels are delicious and so is the pesto bread. I can't say much for the service though. One time, a friend and I went to Pazzos to watch a football game. When we asked to be seated, the hostess was sort of annoyed/rude and made us wait 15 minutes even though there were clearly open tables in various places. Finally, we sat down at one of the bars by ourselves, because it appeared that the hostess had either forgotten about us or simply didn't care. Then, we were pretty much neglected by our waitress the entire night. We had to keep asking other servers if they could get things for us, refill our drinks, check on our food, etc. It wasn't even that busy - we went during mid-afternoon and the place was definitely not full. That was the worst service of all the times I've been to Pazzos, but to be honest, the service was never that great to start with. Wait times for food just depend on how lucky you are that day. I usually don't have too many complaints about the wait time for food, except for that awful day when my order of cheese pizza literally took a half hr to make. Overall, it's a decent local joint if you don't mind shitty service and good pizza.
(3)Eric H.
Good pizza, great beer selection. the staff was friendly but a little slow, I had to wait 30 minutes for my appstizers. good atmosphere.
(4)Brian R.
The big draw for Pazzo's is that they are located close to the University of Kentucky campus. They have pretty decent pizza (better can be had at Pucinni's Smiling Teeth) and a good selection of beer (better can be had at Marikka's on Southland). If you are willing to compromise a little on both to get the pizza and the beer together in one place, then you are all set with Pazzo's. Hit them on Wednesday to take part in "Pint Night" where you can get a collectable pint glass to take home with you when you buy a featured beer. It is a fun place and with good atmosphere, but loses a star for lacking the best pizza or beer in town.
(4)Taylor B.
Good beer, decent pizza, HORRIBLE SERVICE, esp if they're busy. If they're not busy, it's almost always a good bet. If there's a wait, you might as well go somewhere else.
(4)Erik W.
The pizza is pretty good and beer selection here is great, the service is the absolute pits. A first admonition: avoid this place like the plague on Wednesday nights -- Pint Night. If you can get early enough to get a table, they might tell you have to have 3/4 of your party, while you can see across the room that there is at least one table for 8 with a single person saving it. Then you might go to the bar and ask to "pre-order" the special and get the pint glasses to keep and they'll tell you can't do that, and then you wait there another 10 minutes to order another drink for now, and somebody else walks up and pre-orders the special and walks away with two glasses. Bottom line, no consistency whatsoever and it's uber frustrating. Even on other nights of the week, the service is slow and erratic. But, like I said, the pizza is pretty good. Personally, I stick to Mellow Mushroom which is a block and a half away.
(2)Calvin G.
I love pazzo's! Wendesday is pint night and starting at 6:30 (you'll have to get there about 5) if you order a pitcher of that week's beer you get two pint glasses to keep! Great pizza and toms of great beer!
(5)Andrew N.
Love to hang out at this place. Just be sure to arrive before 5:30 on Thursdays to get a table. Ive had the subs and my wife had the pizza here and we both agree the food is great. Parking can be a pain at times, plus the "security" guard at the lot is sort of a jerk. Otherwise, great time
(4)Ginny W.
Omg - the food here is to freakin die for. When its time to splurge for pizza - this is the place I save up for to go to when I travel to the KY. I get the white pizza. It is *the* best white pizza I have ever had. The beer list is mighty and the staff has always been really friendly.
(5)Ross M.
I love pizza and i could do without this place. Atmosphere is good, it's an ok place to hang out with friends, but the pizza was unremarkable. It's one of the last two places I'd choose for pizza in Lexington.
(2)Dave A.
Pazzo's is one of the best spots in Lexington! GREAT pizza and Calzones etc. and an incredible selection of beer on tap. I prefer to sit at the cozy bar downstairs, myself. They have a daily beer menu, though they usually have the same beer list with a small number of rotating taps. I believe they have around 30-35 beers on tap and a whole bunch of different bottles, though probably not as many as Marikka's!
(5)pedro s.
Great pizza, great beer selection
(5)Sam W.
Great pizza and baked subs, but the thing that makes this place a favorite is the barroom character and atmosphere... the beer tome is sorted by the country of origin and is astoundingly broad. Mostly I like the pizza and coziness, especially the bar downstairs. The crowds are thickest on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. A popular hangout for the students and teachers from nearby University of Kentucky, the booths are oversized and ideal for larger groups. Oh, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Watch out for the panhandlers, who will make up some crap about needing bus fare.
(5)Nate H.
pizza is good and beer selection outstanding. best to be ready for a college crowd b/c it's pretty much on UK campus.
(4)Marc J.
This is a fun pizza joint with an outstanding beer selection. For food, stick with the basics here: pizzas feature a chewy crust that's a bit doughy, with nice choices of fresh toppings. Pretzels are also pretty good: crunchy/chewy pizza dough slathered in butter and parm, served with a marinara sauce. Beer list includes a wide range of US microbrews, some interesting imported stuff, and your usual mass-produced brews if that's what you prefer. Service is friendly but maybe a little busy.
(4)Jacob J.
This is just a very fun and fulfilling college pub. Is it fine dining? No but the pretzels are huge, soft, coated in butter and parmesan, and come apart like play-doh. Somehow (I know how: it's the butter and parmesan and luscious dough) it makes for a good meal of it's own. And that's if you order the small sample. The calzone is like the upgrade. Made with the same dough and coating, it's an appetite testing treat. They pack it with globs of cheese and meat. I had the funky chicken and it's big enough for two. But I had no regrets about finishing it on my own. What really makes this place stand out, though, is the beer selection. It refuses to settle for the college bastions of Miller and Coors. There's nearly 50 different craft and international beers on tap, I think. I went local, with two Kentucky choices, but there's a choice from coast to coast and hearty sampling of Belgians too. If that's not what sells all those basketball players in recruiting, I don't what does.
(4)Jamie P.
IF Pazzo's were only a pizza joint, they'd get 2 stars. They get an extra one for one thing: Pint Night! The pizza just isn't good. Stiff, hard to eat crust, toppings that aren't the freshest. Plus, it takes up to an hour to get a pizza. I know this because I used to torture myself with their pizza when we'd go for Pint Night. That said, Pint Night kicks ass. I'd not trade another drinking event I've ever been to for Pint Night, where you get rad beer glasses just for ordering a pitcher of a different, wonderful craft beer every single week. In fact, when I first moved out of my parents' house, I had enough Pint Night glasses to fill my cabinet. A few broke, but they're still responsible for furnishing a good chunk of my glassware. So keep doing Pint Night, Pazzo's. Your pizza underwhelms but your beer is fan-freaking-tastic.
(3)Mike M.
Seating and service was fast. Sari ordered a Pesto pizza, I ordered the Funky Chicken calzone. The drinks came quickly, food took about 25 minutes from placing the order. Sari's pizza was hot, fresh from the oven. My calzone, though was cold. Not good. Sari enjoyed her pizza, my calzone was just OK. The crust had a nice yeasty taste and was crispy on the outside, but the inside was doughy and seemed to be under baked. That could have been caused though by the calzone sitting around while Sari's pizza was baking. Prices are good, service (Morgan was our server) was great, food was mixed: 1 yay, 1 nay.
(3)Jake R.
Where to start? We wanted to enjoy a UK basketball game, but it was busy so we went to their outdoor patio. Let's hit on the lowlights: they only had appetizers available at the bar, because apparently the outdoor patio isn't a part of the restaurant? Stupid. They had one bartender trying to fix drinks for 80+ people outside. I blame that on the owner, or whoever made the schedule. The food was good, but it took forever for is to actually be able to order. And when the food arrived (meatballs and cheese bread), we were told that there was no silverware. I had to actually go inside to get some, which took an extra 15 minutes. The service is poor. The drinks are poor. The food is okay. I wish I would have never made a trip here.
(1)Steven W.
Been here many times...Good crowds, very casual, great pizza, and beer prices are very reasonable!
(4)Randa E.
The pizza is just ok, but if you're going to Pazzo's you're going for one of two reasons... or maybe both:) 1. Watch the Cats 2. Awesome beer selection Pint Night is always fun, but get there early or plan on standing!
(4)Craig U.
First off, this place is huge. Was not expecting that at all. I guess I didn't realize that it stretched behind several buildings there on S. Limestone. Decor is all shiny dark-stained wood. Very professional looking bar in appearance with several rooms to walk through and too many beers on tap to count. My friend recommended that we try a Meatball Sub and a Funky Chicken Calzone. I also had seen good reviews of the Pretzel appetizer on Yelp as well, so I decided to give it a shot. For $3, why the heck not. First off, the pretzels are HUGE. Loaded with butter and parmesan, and a nice real-bread taste (as in, possibly from a starter?). Not really hard and crusty like you would expect, more like a misshapen bread stick. The pretzels are definitely worth your time. The Meatball Sub was pretty good. I enjoyed that the part of the loaf cut out to make room for the meatballs was on the side and turned into a kind of bread stick. The meatballs themselves were average size, but they were tasty. They didn't have that store-bought flavor, so you can tell someone actually made them by hand. The cheese was layered on THICK. So thick that when I ate the other half the next day for lunch, I temporarily mistook it for a piece of meat. A little pricey for $9, but definitely tasty. My wife got the Funky Chicken Calzone, and boy was I jealous. It was about the same cost as my meal, but it was ENORMOUS. And the bread tasted a lot like the same bread they used for the pretzels. The innards consisted of shredded chicken and the most delicious garlic-alfredo sauce I have tasted in my life. She ended up eating leftovers of this at work for the next two days. Not that eating those giant pretzels hurt on that respect either. Most of the folks around us were getting pizza by the slice, which looked pretty good. We just wanted to try the fancy stuff. Wait staff here can be a little slow getting things started, but once they arrived they were very attentive and efficient. One even changed the channel per a customer request. I was quite pleased, as it resulted in watching a hockey game instead of ESPN highlights. Overall, very delightful. This place will definitely have to go into my rotation.
(4)Jesica L.
My coworkers told me this was the best pizza place in town. I was excited to try a new restaurant and my friends and I all ordered the lunch special- a jumbo slice of pizza and soup. My chili was ok. Nothing to write home about but not terrible either. We waited for longer than usual for our pizza slices and when they finally arrived I was so disappointed. The crust was almost see through thin, incredibly greasy and not good at all! It was so thin I could not pick it up to eat. The only reason I ate it was because I was so hungry not because it was particularly edible. On top of it all, they added generous amounts of Parmesan cheese all over my pizza which I do not like. I tried scraping off the Parmesan cheese and soaking up the grease the entire time. Terrible pizza + slow service means I won't come back here again.
(2)Sable B.
I wouldn't say my experience was wonderful or awful, it truly was a-ok. Nothing crazy to rave about. And maybe that's because I am jaded by delicious pizza offerings in Cincy, such as A Tavola and Adriatico's. And craft beer selections in Cincy are things I've never heard of and haven't tried yet, while Pazzo's offered a lot of things I have seen and tried. The service was fine, the pizza was good, and the beers I had were enjoyable.
(3)Amanda F.
Try the pretzels! They beat the ones in the mall! Soft warm dough covered in butter and Parmesan cheese there's nothing not to love about them. Their pizza list is quite extensive so you really can't go wrong with whatever pizza you order. If you are free try pint night. It can get quite crowded but it's a perfect chance to try different beers. Plus you get a souvenir glass to take home.
(5)Adam B.
Get the funky chicken and any of a great assortment of beers. One of the few places near downtown that offers private lot parking. Can't go wrong.
(5)Amanda B.
Okay so this is def a college bar/pizza joint which is cool but have low expectations for atmosphere. The wings were disgusting!!!!! Do not even bother...they are baked which is fantastic but they are straight out of a frozen bag and when you get them, the skin is just mushy fat!!! My husband loves wings and he couldn't eat them. On the other hand the pizza is fantastic!! Hubby had the meatball and I had the pazzo's calzone (tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms). Yum Yum Yum!!! Marinara that came with the calzone was awesome too! Skip the app's and dig into the pizza! Salads looked yummy, I peeked at a table next to us, looked fresh and delish!
(4)Amy W.
This is a great pizza joint-especially if you are a poor college student. Obviously Pazzo's caters to that crowd too, due to their location. The décor reflects this as well. On Saturday my friends and I were seated on the front patio. Our server didn't know that we were seated out there, because after 10 minutes I had to go track down the hostess to let her know that we hadn't seen our server yet. We were having a good time chatting, so it wasn't a big deal! She provided great service for the rest of the evening. However, the huge fan blowing on us during a somewhat chilly early evening was a nuisance! The pizza was hot, cheesy, yummy, and cheap! The four of us split a large one topping pizza and the total came out to $4.21 each.
(4)Jamie M.
First visit here and the pizza was pretty good. The pretzel appetizer was great. A cheese dipping sauce would have made it perfect. The pretzels are huge and the small order has three of them. They didn't have a kids menu, but I guess since it's in the middle of UK's campus that would be expected. It's a great location for the college and is a great spot for college kids to hang out and watch games.
(4)Heather P.
I can't believe that I waited so long to discover this place. The home and copy right holder of the name "Pint Night", each week they feature a different pint special. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't really elaborate about the hundreds of different beers that they seem to offer.Yes, it's close to campus and yes there are a lot of younger people, but I didn't feel out of place because there is a mixture of people. The pizza was excellent...very filling. The only downside is, the parking. They have a very small lot, once that's full, you have to park on the street. The are a lot of surrounding hot spots so the street parking is scarce too.
(4)Jagger R.
I visited Pazzo's while visiting my sister at the University of Kentucky, and it was delicious. I do not think I've ever tasted better cheese sticks at any other pizza place! I shared a small pizza with my sister and it was awesome! It was seasoned with Parmesan, cooked to PERFECTION, and was given to us quickly. Along with Parkette Drive-In, this is a great restaurant to visit while in Lexington!
(5)Meredith A.
Great beer selection - Kentucky Ale was the go-to given the circumstance. Pizza was delicious and the "small" size was plenty big for two people. The pretzels are a perfect choice for your appetizer and are much bigger than expected. Price was decent but expect to pay $4.50+ for one beer.
(4)Olwen C.
Beer selection is one of the best in town. Food is good, but every time I've been here I've either had something wrong with my order or it took a LONG time to be served. Could be great, but they have some staff training to do.
(4)Jon H.
Good food, but bad service. I would have rate this place higher even with the poor service, but it was beyond that. The bartender was rude. I walked in with a group of friends and the guy working behind the bar asked us why we were sitting down (in a very crapy tone) we said because we wanted a beer. He got even crappier and told us he was working on closing down and we should leave. Keep in mind they were still serving other guest around us. I didn't stick around, due to the attitude. I've gone back to get take out and food was good, but I can't take RUDE.
(2)Andrew Y.
3-stars, A-OK.This local pub is a decent hangout. They have the atmosphere, the patio, and enough of a diversity in beers. Fun place to have a few drinks, pizza and calzones are fairly decent. Food won't blow you away, but the environment is worthy of 3-stars.
(3)Chandler L.
A downtown classic! A ton of space, craft beer and great pizza. If you are ever on campus make sure to stop by and grab a slice.
(5)Jack T.
Not really sure what to say when it comes to this restaurant. I've been here six times and three of those times was some of the best pizza I've ever had and the other three times was maybe the worst. Long story short, if the pizza is not BURNT (which it apparently is HALF the time), the pizza is great.
(3)Thomas I.
Pint night here is cool. Just another fun thing to do in Lexington. But holy crap, what consistently TERRIBLE service. The hostess and wait staff seem completely disinterested all of the time. It's a busy spot downtown on a college campus and it's likely that all of the staff are college students but they do an awful job of making you feel welcome. The food is just okay. Overall pretty meh. Fix the service and it could be amazing.
(2)Derek L.
The beer selection here is awesome! Pizza is solid! The place is huge with a really cool atmosphere! Don't come here if you are in a hurry though. Every time I go it takes over an hour to get my pizza. But they have fantastic beers to make the wait more enjoyable!
(4)M R.
I love this place and have since I was in lex for college. I know there are what some may call "deficiencies", but I think the trick is to take the joint for what it is. Service can be slow, but the food is awesome and the beer selection can't be beat. I will always come back when I am in town.
(4)Chelsea L.
Great food! Service is consistent; yeah they're not overly attentive but they have three floors + a patio and one kitchen. Considering the volume of guests id say they do alright. Just know if you go here, be ready to indulge. Dieters beware, pretzels be comin for ya! (They're awesome with ranch!)
(5)Chad C.
Love this place. Pizza by the slice and beer by the pint or picher. Great atmosphere at a great price. I need a pazzo day. Wed Night is Pint night where they celebrate a specific beer on tap and you get free mugs with every pitcher ordered.
(5)Susan B.
Great beer list is not enough guys. Wrong drink order , double meat meant no visible meat, server was too busy chatting with her friend at the bar to check on things, manager rather than apologizing decided to debate things with us. Very disappointed. Won't be back there.
(1)Robert N.
As a supporter of local bistros/cafes/college pizza hangouts, I'm usually a big fan of Pazzos. Their mega meat pizza is the peanut butter to my goldfish. The issue has become the service. A college age woman had the genius idea to not bring a notepad to write out our order. She then decided after we had already ordered to get the pad and make us repeat everything. With great pizza and dookie service I've decided to give Pazzos three stars.
(3)Kandice G.
I found this place while working at UK. It is close to campus and a great time if alone or with a group. I don't think an explanation is needed for a group. As for alone, the atmosphere was perfect for me while writing.
(5)Tom D.
I have enjoyed their pizza selection several times and the beer selection is great. Beer menu includes descriptions to inspire trying something new each time. They used to have the ability to buy a "flight" of 6 samplers but I was disappointed to find this discontinued during my most recent visit. TIP: don't let them seat you in the lowest level as the low ceiling makes it virtually impossible to carry on a conversation without leaning in close. I was at a table with 8 people and could really only talk (yell) with those people sitting at my end of the table.
(3)Maggie T.
Always very packed. The pizza is good for KY- and they have a lot of different choices. Awesome place to watch the game. Just a rowdy place overall, which isn't surprising because it's on campus. If you watch any of the Sweet 16 games there, get there EARLY otherwise you can't get in.
(3)Joanne A.
Great pizza and beer menu. Only downside is the service can be questionable. We've had great service but usually it's pretty bad. It's all college students and most don't care about the customers.
(4)Rick F.
It took me three visits to this place to finally get a bartender's attention. The two times I could not get service I just walked over to Joe Bs for some average Pizza. Lexington does not know crap about pizza because they have never been to Italy, France or Spain and had the real thing. Pazzo's pizza must be covered in liquid smoke I did not see any wood fired ovens but even with the wood fired ovens of Europe there is not a smoke flavor. Also noticed half the beer drawn at Pazzo's goes down the drain. Had to tell the bartender to tilt the beer glass and pull back slowly on the tap. I hate a big head of foam and I hate to see beer go down the drain. Hope Tom trains his pourers better in the future they are costing him a bundle.
(2)Gordon F.
Excellent pizza here at a reasonable price, much better than one might expect from a pub-style restaurant. The selection of Belgian beers is way above average, make sure you at least get a Leffe or maybe a more expensive Belgian beer like a Delirium Tremens with your pizza while you're there. The pesto bread appetizer was delicious and was so filling we were hardly even hungry by the time our pizza arrived. The decor is awesome and the location is great. Just an overall great experience here. Note: I probably wouldn't bother coming here during a UK game, it's probably total chaos.
(5)Ashley G.
Best pizza in Lexington!! The pretzels appetizer is delicious. I am normally not a fan of BBQ pizza, but their BBQ Hawaiian is delicious!!!! I've had a variety of their pizza's and all have been spectacular! The only suggestion I make is to go with friends and get a whole pie, their individual slices are meh! Maybe they aren't fresh, I dunno, but you can taste a huge difference from a whole pie to a slice. Also the beer selection is amazing! Basically any beer you want, you can find here.
(5)S C.
For a college bar, the food was decent. Great service, too. Ordered chili and greek salad. Both were fresh. Big wide screen TV. Good place to watch a game and drink beer. Very wide selection.
(3)David R.
Barreling down the highway at 85mph, I prefer to keep my full attention on the road. So, I chose Pazzo's because it was the first result for "Pizza" in "Lexington, KY" on my occasionally handy Yelp mobile app. And from what I have seen of Lexington Yelp, 21 reviews indicates a very popular place indeed. I also liked the choice because the map showed it in the middle of town, and if I were only going to stop long enough for dinner, I wanted at least to see some of the city on my way in and my way out. Convenient parking lot right across the alley? Great. Lots of patio seating? Also nifty. Although, I had spent most of the day in the sun and preferred a seat inside. They showed me to a relatively quiet corner in one of the side rooms, where there are also a couch and some easy chairs in addition to the round two-tops. They had calzones on the menu, so that was a lock. I wanted to try the pizza too, but they don't serve single slices at dinnertime. Appetizers were half-price until 7, so I ordered the (already cheap at $2.95) pretzels. This was listed as "(3)" but I did not expect three full-sized pretzels. Oops. Well, I ate all three--they were damn good, brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with parmesan, and served with marinara on the side. Think about that deal, by the way--$1.48 for a pretzel appetizer that could easily be shared by two people who just want something to nibble on while they drink beer and watch basketball. That said, I should have had a salad instead, because the calzone (pepperoni and green peppers) was a good size, and very doughy. I did finish it all, because I wasn't in a hurry, and it really was delicious. If this were a Chicago joint, I would slot them somewhere around #4 or #5 on my calzone list. The peppers were fresh and slightly crunchy, and the presence of ricotta did not diminish my enjoyment. Solid beer list--about three to four dozen drafts. My waitress was a little stiff at first but warmed up considerably. She kept coming by to check on me even after it was obvious that I wasn't going to order anything else and was merely struggling to fit everything into my gluttonous stomach. Final tally--$18 for two beers, the half-price pretzels, and the calzone with two ingredients. I love travelling to small cities.
(4)Gail B.
A late dinner here, it wasn't very busy but our service was terrible. Our server started by apologizing for taking so long to greet us. We placed our drink orders and she rolled her eyes when someone In our group couldn't decide on one of the vast selection of micro- brewed beers. She offered very little help in narrowing down the selection After waiting a long long time to get our drinks she came back one drink short cause she forgot what the order had been. Maybe write it down next time? The pizza took forever (big surprise) and when she brought a salad out early , no silverware was provided. Most of our group enjoyed the pizza, a Funky Chicken and Bootlegger pizza. More so the bootlegger. But I'm more of a traditionalist, I missed the red sauce and traditional toppings. I personally would try that if I ever came back. I didn't want to name the server specifically because she may have just been having a bad night, but it really did effect how I rated this review.
(2)Josh M.
Went here before Hugh ass. Could not get anyone to wait on me in two places inside. Moved on as I wanted a beer. Was a Sunday but open, I was not the only one saying things, just the only one that decided to move on then wait. Not sure I will go back anytime soon.
(2)Ryan N.
This place has a pretty sweet atmosphere. It looks like a small place from the street, but it actually has lots of space inside. There are multiple levels to this place (stairs leading to each). Huge beer selection. Multiple bars. The pizza is okay. It's better than any other pizza I've had in Lexington, but I haven't tried many places yet. Decently priced. Pretzels are good.
(4)Jeff J.
I had read many reviews about Pazzo's and was eager to try the pizza. After placing our drink order it took early 15 minutes before our waitress returned to take an appetizer order. We ordered the pesto bread which was basically a hogtie bun you could get for any grocery store wit pesto and cheese....sadly it was very forgettable. We had to flag the waitress down again to get drink refills and tell her we wanted to place an order. She told us that she was sorry she wasn't giving us very much attention. We placed and order for a large cheese pizza. 49 minutes later after several ho-hum promises that it would be out in just a second our pizza arrived. The high hopes and long wait left us equally disappointed in the food as we were with the service. The crust was over cooked and dry. While we eagerly sought out our waitress for a drink refill we were encouraged about the future of our country while listening the the blabbering of some summer schooler who explained to her bored co-eds how 911 was planned by George Bush. In the end at least our hour and a half dining experience left us with a laugh. As for the food, it was as dismal as the service. Would not even give this place a second chance.
(1)Chris P.
Not bad! Good beer selection and the service was slow but they were kinda nice. Didnt get food but the beers were moving. Nice location right next to so many places to eat.
(3)Chris C.
Now look here. I write this review with extremely biased opinions, since this has basically been my second home / place of refuge for a good part of the past decade. Not only have i become friendly with bartenders and wait staff, but I have had numerous business and social meetings which have resulted in a ton of memories. That being said, let's get down to brass tacks. The pizza is good. Pesto Bread is really good. Beer selection is great, and the atmosphere is good for what it is. You can be a rowdy college student, a twentysomething, a professor or a family of 6 and come here and be happy. You could also be that same myriad of demographics and come here and be mad. This place can be anywhere from family friendly to downright chaotic. All depends on timing and UK sporting events. Wednesday from 6 til 10 is going to be packed because of pint night. All things considered, this is a great pizza joint with a great beer selection - the best in the downtown area for a restaurant - and it could be argued that Pazzo's (and Tom, its owner) helped spawn the craft beer movement in Lexington. Get some pie, don't get in a hurry, and have a pint or three. It's a great place....just be patient and kind to the wait staff. If you're in a hurry, go to pizza hut.
(4)Megan C.
I love me some Pazzos. They have delicious pizza (probably my favorite in Lexington), and they've recently expanded to an additional room and patio which really helps with the crowd, especially on pint night. They've got 40 beers on tap at any given time in addition to a full service bar. Pint night, Wednesdays, always packs a crowd, but it's definitely an event worth checking out. The beer of the night comes with souvenir pint glasses that you get to take home with you. There's a really fun, pub-y atmosphere, and they always play Kentucky games. (of course they do, being three steps away from campus and not playing Kentucky games would be a new level of blasphemy). Service is usually slow, but for me, the pizza makes up for it.
(4)Olivia W.
I have come and gone from Pazzo's often. I enjoy the patio, the beer selection and the atmosphere. It is laid back and chill. However I do not think their food is that great. It is fine, not amazing but not horrible. Every time I eat there I having a feeling of "eh." I have started to use it as a place to just drink.
(3)S W.
Great pizza and calzone. The services less than friendly, perhaps normal for a college pizza joint. The beer cheese appetizer was a bit disappointing, but the pizza made up for it.
(4)Brian S.
Ate here many times while in college. Can be very busy on Pint Night or during games, but there are times when the place will be dead. The pretzels are a definite must-have, and their pizza is great. If you're seated upstairs, you can even see the mixer they use to make the crust (no frozen dough here). Beer selection is enormous.
(4)Ryan P.
Pazzo's is by far my favorite place for beer in the entire state of Kentucky. With 45 beers on tap, and well over 100 more in bottles, it certainly is a beer mecca. All beers are served in clean appropriate glassware, and the bar staff are knowledgeable about the beers they serve. Prices on beer are certainly fair as well. I also love Pazzo's food. The pizzas are amazing, especially the funky chicken. Usually when I'm here though, I stick with appetizers. During happy hour, they're half off, so it's a great time to enjoy an order of pesto bread, wings, or some of their fantastic pretzels. The best and worst time to come to Pazzo's is on Wednesdays for pint night. Buy a pitcher of the special beer, and take two glasses home. From the 160 or so beer glasses in my collection, I bet at least half came from pint night trips to Pazzo's when I was in college. The only bad part is that they've become super popular over the years, especially when UK is in session, so you must get there super early and be prepared for less than stellar service from the overworked staff. Some pint nights, you may not even be able to get a table for 2+ hours (happened to me once). For the most part, the staff are friendly, although I've had a few that weren't so pleasant over the years. Tom the owner is a great guy, so if you see him, chat him up. He runs a great business and I'll always be a regular, even though I live almost an hour away!
(5)John W.
Absolutely the worst service in Lexington. The McDonalds down the street is five star compared to this. What a joke. 45 minutes for two pizza slices. Seated in the dark when we requested the mostly empty patio. Manager refused to speak with me. Don't waste your time here. You can get pizza, pasta, and beer anywhere. Mellow Mushroom is right around the corner. This was our fourth and last visit. Five stars for having the same level of non service every time. Did I mention that in all that time we were served NO food???
(2)Mike W.
Pazzo's, along with Tally's and Henry Earl, are Lexington institutions. Mister Earl probably has not had the chance to partake in Pazzo's awesomeness, which is really a shame. Now, I know I'm going to get lambasted for this, but I don't think Pazzo's pizza is anything fantastic. I'm not going to say it's bad, because it's not - but people seem to rant and rave about it like its the best thing to happen to pizza since cheese. Pizza is a fantastic accompaniment to beer though, so even if its only 70% awesome on its own it will taste amazing. And oh, the beer selection. Pazzo's has one of the more impressive beer selections in the area. You can almost certainly find one, if not dozens, of varieties you've never had before. If you manage to make it during happy hour or Pint Night, you can have your fill for a relatively inexpensive price. Sadly Pazzo's is not without it's downsides. While parking is usually fine on weekdays, on weekends it can be a bit of a joke. If you live on campus, you're better off walking. Even when it's not busy, the service at Pazzo's is somewhat slow. I guess that's not so bad if you and friends are enjoying a beer and shooting the breeze, but if you came there just to eat dinner you will have a slightly than longer wait. Also, with a billion TVs and a billion college kids crammed in, the place can get a little loud. They have a patio outside that fits the bill if you're looking to have a quieter evening, but it is abhorrently hot on a summer day - it's more like a greenhouse. Ahh, college!
(4)Tastybeverages T.
I have to say I love this place. I have been going there for years and have almost every selection on the menu. All in all, the pizzas and sandwiches are great, and the beer selection is top notch. My only problem has always been a problem, which is that they have sketchy service from time to time. I have come to expect it, and the beer takes the pain away.
(4)Eli S.
Dear Pazzo's, My brother and I visited you from Columbus about 7 mos ago and we still talk about you and miss you. Your pizzas are what dreams are made of and I cherish the glasses I bought from you to this day. The service was outstanding ( I know, I was a server for 12 years ). Thank you for giving me such wonderful, lasting, tasty memories. I hope to see you soon. When anyone asks me where the best pizza place is around here I tell them that if they don't mind driving 3 hours, they can have the best pizza they have or will ever taste. I show them my glasses as proof. I may make a trip down there just to see you and drive back. - Eli
(5)Dean S.
good not
(1)Mike R.
Total failure in service, sorry. The food was ordered properly, but the kitchen messed up the order and produced the wrong food. The server said he was sorry, and that it would be out in 7 minutes. After 20 minutes, the food came and the server made no apologies. It was lunch rush and I had a meeting to get to so asked for a box and was give a tiny box. I had to point out to the server that our food to go would not even fit in that box. I said that I would like a check and a discount since it took over 1 hour to get one medium pizza and he seemed put out and said it would take a while as he would have to get a manager. A restaurant has to deal with problems, and good restaurants know how to do this. Pazzo seemed to have no way to deal with this with generally horrible service and had no available manager. I did not see a manager anywhere so perhaps the serve was correct. No apology, no compensation, and a really bad attitutde. Horrible service, wont be heading there any tie soon.
(1)Andrew K.
Pazzos Special pizza - bunch of meat and a few good veggies, is definitely worth a try if you find yourself at Pazzo's. I really liked the pretzels (breadsticks) and marinara sauce. Our waiter was great Atmosphere was laid back Lots of tvs And they have decent parking as well! The main downside is the noise level here. Certainly not a quiet destination.
(4)adam p.
Hit Pazzo's up for happy hour, they have it 7 days a week from 4-7. Pretzels are great and 3 huge ones are a mere buck and a half, gota love college towns! Also the beer selections is massive with 15ish on tap and about 100 in the bottle. If you can put up with the ditzy college kids serving the food its a true winner! The big patio and free parking in a busy area was also a plus!
(4)Jon M.
Being from Seattle, I may not be the foremost authority on what most consider to be "good" pizza. I see what the purists like. I see what the new-agey pizza people like in places like CPK. My first visit to Pazzo's came in the summer of 2008, when I visited Lexington for the first time with a very good friend who lived in Louisville. Being a UK grad, she immediately recommended it. And I fell in love. With the pizza, of course. It was everything I ever wanted. Hand-made. Perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings, not going overboard on the non-traditional toppings. My friend, Melissa, had ordered a calzone, which I then ate when she was out of town for a few days. :D The next time I went was about a week later with our friend, Kristie. Going here was a reward for helping her out. And in addition to the pizza, I delved into the beer selection. Let me tell you, it is tough picking a beer from a fairly large selection is tough. Aside from the at-times-slow service (lunch hour, happy hour), this is an amazing place. It has everything I want in a pizza place....good food, good beer, good people.
(5)Mike D.
Beer List - Uh MAZIN Pizza - stupore (amazing) Service - worse than an Applebee's, and probably stoned (oh, college...) not necessarily the servers though. like anywhere it depends. Decor- the front bar is great, the new addition smells like a frat house and has the gross wet floors to boot Pint Night - a titanic waste of time, stay away. This place is a total Jeckyll & Hyde. I want to give it 4 stars but when most of the clientele are obnoxious frat boys and most of the service is comatose at best it makes it difficult.
(3)Morgan M.
Before the comments of hatred ensure, let me start by saying I'm a true blue Lexingtonian and a UK grad. Yesterday I patronized Pazzo's for at least the bazillionth time in my 8 years of living here, and had by far the worst experience yet. I say "yet" because in my experience Pazzo's certainly does not pride itself on service, and why would they? Clearly they are the niche go-to for a second-to-none selection of pizza and beers (read the other reviews...they are 99.9% focused on the product, not the service), and being that the staff appear largely strung out, they don't seem to care. My party of 5 arrived for dinner to a not very crowded restaurant, just in time for happy hour. A couple people ordered drinks, and a couple appetizers were ordered as well. 45 MINUTES LATER I pulled our server aside (who had come by once to refill drinks) and (at a loss for words at the negligence of the situation) bluntly asked "Where are our appetizers?" Reacting as if I'd slapped her across the face, she offered to check, returning moments later to apologetically inform us that they'd been taken to the wrong table (and she never noticed until I brought it to her attention???) and would be taken off the bill. Another 15 minutes later, we finally had our appetizers. An exhausting 20 minutes later, we had our food, except that the medium pizza myself and a friend were splitting had somehow been misinterpreted as a small. How this is plausible when the other two pizzas at the table were ordered and delivered correctly as mediums is beyond me. This was remedied by second small pizza packaged to-go. Whew! I was so relieved to leave that I was almost not annoyed by the parking Nazi out back, as he was willing to accept our pizza boxes as evidence of patronage rather than making us dig out receipts. The moral of the story is, low expectations lead to pleasant experiences.
(2)Brad F.
How do I begin to describe Pazzo's... It's more of a state of mind than a restaurant. Big Tom the owner likes to the provider of lexington's largest beer menu especially weighted with Belgian superior ales. He even takes frequent vacations to Belgium, which really reflects the mood of this place. Now the food is your pretty general pizza and heavy bar food. Nothing wild, but goes down well with just about any ale or lager you picked from a list of ~140. Here's the rules if you want to dine or drink at Pazzo's: Don't go on a Wednesday after 5 if you don't want to play/fight the Pint Night game(you'll have an atrocious time getting anything from behind the bar.) If you want to play the game, get there around 430 and secure a table and never waste an opportunity to send your waiter to the bar. Cheers!
(4)Sean B.
As mentioned, great selection of beer on tap and better than average pizza. Big ass pretzels are also very popular here. A great place to watch the game or have some beers with friends.
(3)Talon H.
On paper, whole grain pizza may not sound to appealing to most people. Give it a chance and you just may be surprised.
(4)Jeff R.
You can order a slice of cheese pizza and wait twenty minutes. Cheese pizza. And why do they brush butter over the pizza? At least the beer list is decent. I had Alpha King on tap last time I was there. That alone gets Pazzo's a star.
(3)Jenny H.
Good pizza, good beer, reasonable prices.
(4)Kalie B.
Tasty hoagies! Great beer menu! Service was slow but it was opening weekend at Keenland and it was packed. Would definitely come back and try more of their menu on a slower night.
(4)Landon C.
I don't know that I've ever had good service here. Definitely a college-town pizzeria. But the pizza is great, and though it's a tad expensive it's always worth it. Don't expect good service and you can't go wrong here.
(3)Josh S.
GREAT PLACE! good prices, this place is huge, lots of room but no no pool table
(4)Daniel F.
Pazzo's is the place that I reccommend to out-of-towners. It is one of the few special places in Lexington. Yes, the beer list is amazing and the best in Lexington. However, the pretzel appitizer and Funky Chicken Pizza will keep you coming back. The service can be slow and inconsistent, however the atmosphere, location, pizza and beer more than make up for it. As a Lexington local, it is my restaurant of choice. A must for any Lexitonian or guest to the bluegrass.
(5)Cinimod S.
The servers here are the best in town, although they usually seem pretty stressed, this place is usually packed. The beer selection is what draws the crowds. The pizza at mellow mushroom is better but more expensive, so theres the trade off. The pesto bread is well worth it. I wish they had more South American and Asian beers. Its heavily European on the menu there.
(4)Camille G.
Simple pizza and burgers joint with chicken fingers, etc. Doesn't really have anything particular to recommend it, and like anything around UK, difficult parking.
(2)Daniel R.
The pizza is good, but not an authentic Neapolitan style if that is what you are are looking for. The daily slices will keep you full as you enjoy basically any kind of beer you could possible want. The pretzels are also a great way to soak up some of that alcohol. This is a must try near UK's campus.
(3)Dave B.
Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great beer selection. Excellent pizza & pretzels.
(5)Jennifer S.
The beer list is freaking intense! I wish I could have one of every single kind! But then I'd be poor and probably be in the hospital. Anyway, this is definitely the places to bring beer connoisseurs. Pizza is pretty dang good. Staff are always busy so it takes a while to get things rolling, but if you have lots of time, it's worth it.
(4)Tiffany B.
Based on the food alone this place is 5 stars, but service is almost always crazy-slow, even when they aren't busy. With that said, the pizza really is great (Pazzos Pesto is my fave) and plenty of beers on tap! Great place to watch the big game or chill on the patio. Also, they have $1.25 jumbo slices of cheese pizza on Sundays for the lunch crowd.
(3)Ed S.
Great beer, but unbelievably bad service. Whoever staffs this restaurant is either high on drugs or just plain stupid. The food is OK. The pizza crust is too salty and is hard usually. The toppings are OK. Again the beer is great. If you don't mind horrible service as a punitive price to pay for good beer then Pazzo's will be fine. If, however, you have or the party you're with have a shred of class and/or dignity, then you will be very upset with the staff. *UPDATE* The service is getting better. It appears that the slobs that looked hung over and jonesing for another fix have been booted and replaced. Most of the servers and bartenders are nice, clean people now. Pazzo's has made it so that you cannot order beers from two of the three bars when you are on the patio. I'm not sure it the very young servers complain and don't realize that's how you make money, or if management decided to disregard the wants of customers and servers on their own. It's hard to tell, but I don't go there anymore if I want to sit outside on a patio for beers.
(3)John F.
This place is OK it has decent food and it's a good college hangout although it's a bit pricey for college students. I would say the Pizza is some where between a delivery pie and a good Italian pizza shop pie.
(3)Sarah C.
Went to Pazzo's for the 2nd time last night. It is fine but nothing to write home about. We ordered the 4 cheese pizza, which had WAY too much cheese on it... like 4 times the normal amount of cheese. After 1 slice I was done with it and felt like I needed to shower from all of the grease. The plus to Pazzo's is the beer selection and TVs for sports watching.
(2)Klint A.
I love Pazzo's!!! Years ago, I used to buy shoes there! Let me explain. Pazzo's occupies most of a large building near North Campus (UK), roughly on the corner of Euclid and Limestone. This building formerly housed "Court Sports", a local shoe store. I'm not sure when the change occured, but a few years ago...I walked down from my apartment to buy some shoes...and ended up with a pizza instead! The atmosphere at Pazzo's, for me, is perfect. The atmosphere is well done. Just dark enough, just enough bricks, just enough wood. It feels like it's been there longer than it has. The service is uhm...disinterested? But it's kind of what you'd expect/want at a pizza place by a college campus. Try the cheese calzone! The pizzas are great, the calzones are better. If you're on a budget, you can eat on the cheap during happy hour. Pretzels, cheese bread, pesto bread, etc. are all only a few bucks. Seriously though, get the cheese calzone! But the best part is the BEER. Pazzo's has one of the better beer lists in town, and a solid selection of draft beers. As mentioned in some other reviews...go on Wednesday with a friend. Get yourself a pitcher of a great beer and take home some pint glasses. I've tried a lot of beers for the first time at Pazzo's...and they all tasted perfect with a cheese calzone!
(5)Ivy C.
Pretty decent pizza. Everything I have had here has been good. My favorite is, of course, the pizza, but the pretzels are delicious and so is the pesto bread. I can't say much for the service though. One time, a friend and I went to Pazzos to watch a football game. When we asked to be seated, the hostess was sort of annoyed/rude and made us wait 15 minutes even though there were clearly open tables in various places. Finally, we sat down at one of the bars by ourselves, because it appeared that the hostess had either forgotten about us or simply didn't care. Then, we were pretty much neglected by our waitress the entire night. We had to keep asking other servers if they could get things for us, refill our drinks, check on our food, etc. It wasn't even that busy - we went during mid-afternoon and the place was definitely not full. That was the worst service of all the times I've been to Pazzos, but to be honest, the service was never that great to start with. Wait times for food just depend on how lucky you are that day. I usually don't have too many complaints about the wait time for food, except for that awful day when my order of cheese pizza literally took a half hr to make. Overall, it's a decent local joint if you don't mind shitty service and good pizza.
(3)Eric H.
Good pizza, great beer selection. the staff was friendly but a little slow, I had to wait 30 minutes for my appstizers. good atmosphere.
(4)Brian R.
The big draw for Pazzo's is that they are located close to the University of Kentucky campus. They have pretty decent pizza (better can be had at Pucinni's Smiling Teeth) and a good selection of beer (better can be had at Marikka's on Southland). If you are willing to compromise a little on both to get the pizza and the beer together in one place, then you are all set with Pazzo's. Hit them on Wednesday to take part in "Pint Night" where you can get a collectable pint glass to take home with you when you buy a featured beer. It is a fun place and with good atmosphere, but loses a star for lacking the best pizza or beer in town.
(4)Taylor B.
Good beer, decent pizza, HORRIBLE SERVICE, esp if they're busy. If they're not busy, it's almost always a good bet. If there's a wait, you might as well go somewhere else.
(4)Erik W.
The pizza is pretty good and beer selection here is great, the service is the absolute pits. A first admonition: avoid this place like the plague on Wednesday nights -- Pint Night. If you can get early enough to get a table, they might tell you have to have 3/4 of your party, while you can see across the room that there is at least one table for 8 with a single person saving it. Then you might go to the bar and ask to "pre-order" the special and get the pint glasses to keep and they'll tell you can't do that, and then you wait there another 10 minutes to order another drink for now, and somebody else walks up and pre-orders the special and walks away with two glasses. Bottom line, no consistency whatsoever and it's uber frustrating. Even on other nights of the week, the service is slow and erratic. But, like I said, the pizza is pretty good. Personally, I stick to Mellow Mushroom which is a block and a half away.
(2)Lester H.
Whenever I'm in Lex, I visit Pazzo's. For one, many of my friends have in the past and still do work here. Aside from that, the pesto bread is incredibly cheap, $3?, and the beer selection is quite nice for my Bluegrass homeland. TVs exist in abundance and are usually tuned into things I actually care about. Don't worry about the panhandlers. Give the poor saps a buck. If you ever end up in the Northeast or the West Coast, you'll appreciate the fact that you stuffed yourself full of food and caught a nice buzz for less than $30.
(4)David T.
Came here for some beers, took a pizza to go. I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive beer selection, especially the selection of Belgian Ales. The pizza was great, very tasty and very filling. Service was also great -- our waitress was great, very friendly and very helpful. There was a good crowd here on a Tuesday night, would definitely come back here again if in the area.
(4)Luke B.
My favorite place to sit down, relax, and have some good beer and decent food. Damn good pizza, and excellent ever-changing beer list. Sunday afternoons (1-3?) are great to get a jumbo slice of cheese pizza for a little more than a buck, but it can be hard to get a table. Service isn't exactly the best, but the atmosphere makes up for it.
(5)Calvin G.
I love pazzo's! Wendesday is pint night and starting at 6:30 (you'll have to get there about 5) if you order a pitcher of that week's beer you get two pint glasses to keep! Great pizza and toms of great beer!
(5)Andrew N.
Love to hang out at this place. Just be sure to arrive before 5:30 on Thursdays to get a table. Ive had the subs and my wife had the pizza here and we both agree the food is great. Parking can be a pain at times, plus the "security" guard at the lot is sort of a jerk. Otherwise, great time
(4)Ginny W.
Omg - the food here is to freakin die for. When its time to splurge for pizza - this is the place I save up for to go to when I travel to the KY. I get the white pizza. It is *the* best white pizza I have ever had. The beer list is mighty and the staff has always been really friendly.
(5)Ross M.
I love pizza and i could do without this place. Atmosphere is good, it's an ok place to hang out with friends, but the pizza was unremarkable. It's one of the last two places I'd choose for pizza in Lexington.
(2)Dave A.
Pazzo's is one of the best spots in Lexington! GREAT pizza and Calzones etc. and an incredible selection of beer on tap. I prefer to sit at the cozy bar downstairs, myself. They have a daily beer menu, though they usually have the same beer list with a small number of rotating taps. I believe they have around 30-35 beers on tap and a whole bunch of different bottles, though probably not as many as Marikka's!
(5)pedro s.
Great pizza, great beer selection
(5)Sam W.
Great pizza and baked subs, but the thing that makes this place a favorite is the barroom character and atmosphere... the beer tome is sorted by the country of origin and is astoundingly broad. Mostly I like the pizza and coziness, especially the bar downstairs. The crowds are thickest on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. A popular hangout for the students and teachers from nearby University of Kentucky, the booths are oversized and ideal for larger groups. Oh, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Watch out for the panhandlers, who will make up some crap about needing bus fare.
(5)Nate H.
pizza is good and beer selection outstanding. best to be ready for a college crowd b/c it's pretty much on UK campus.
(4)Jacob J.
This is just a very fun and fulfilling college pub. Is it fine dining? No but the pretzels are huge, soft, coated in butter and parmesan, and come apart like play-doh. Somehow (I know how: it's the butter and parmesan and luscious dough) it makes for a good meal of it's own. And that's if you order the small sample. The calzone is like the upgrade. Made with the same dough and coating, it's an appetite testing treat. They pack it with globs of cheese and meat. I had the funky chicken and it's big enough for two. But I had no regrets about finishing it on my own. What really makes this place stand out, though, is the beer selection. It refuses to settle for the college bastions of Miller and Coors. There's nearly 50 different craft and international beers on tap, I think. I went local, with two Kentucky choices, but there's a choice from coast to coast and hearty sampling of Belgians too. If that's not what sells all those basketball players in recruiting, I don't what does.
(4)Jamie P.
IF Pazzo's were only a pizza joint, they'd get 2 stars. They get an extra one for one thing: Pint Night! The pizza just isn't good. Stiff, hard to eat crust, toppings that aren't the freshest. Plus, it takes up to an hour to get a pizza. I know this because I used to torture myself with their pizza when we'd go for Pint Night. That said, Pint Night kicks ass. I'd not trade another drinking event I've ever been to for Pint Night, where you get rad beer glasses just for ordering a pitcher of a different, wonderful craft beer every single week. In fact, when I first moved out of my parents' house, I had enough Pint Night glasses to fill my cabinet. A few broke, but they're still responsible for furnishing a good chunk of my glassware. So keep doing Pint Night, Pazzo's. Your pizza underwhelms but your beer is fan-freaking-tastic.
(3)Mike M.
Seating and service was fast. Sari ordered a Pesto pizza, I ordered the Funky Chicken calzone. The drinks came quickly, food took about 25 minutes from placing the order. Sari's pizza was hot, fresh from the oven. My calzone, though was cold. Not good. Sari enjoyed her pizza, my calzone was just OK. The crust had a nice yeasty taste and was crispy on the outside, but the inside was doughy and seemed to be under baked. That could have been caused though by the calzone sitting around while Sari's pizza was baking. Prices are good, service (Morgan was our server) was great, food was mixed: 1 yay, 1 nay.
(3)Jake R.
Where to start? We wanted to enjoy a UK basketball game, but it was busy so we went to their outdoor patio. Let's hit on the lowlights: they only had appetizers available at the bar, because apparently the outdoor patio isn't a part of the restaurant? Stupid. They had one bartender trying to fix drinks for 80+ people outside. I blame that on the owner, or whoever made the schedule. The food was good, but it took forever for is to actually be able to order. And when the food arrived (meatballs and cheese bread), we were told that there was no silverware. I had to actually go inside to get some, which took an extra 15 minutes. The service is poor. The drinks are poor. The food is okay. I wish I would have never made a trip here.
(1)Steven W.
Been here many times...Good crowds, very casual, great pizza, and beer prices are very reasonable!
(4)Marc J.
This is a fun pizza joint with an outstanding beer selection. For food, stick with the basics here: pizzas feature a chewy crust that's a bit doughy, with nice choices of fresh toppings. Pretzels are also pretty good: crunchy/chewy pizza dough slathered in butter and parm, served with a marinara sauce. Beer list includes a wide range of US microbrews, some interesting imported stuff, and your usual mass-produced brews if that's what you prefer. Service is friendly but maybe a little busy.
(4)Randa E.
The pizza is just ok, but if you're going to Pazzo's you're going for one of two reasons... or maybe both:) 1. Watch the Cats 2. Awesome beer selection Pint Night is always fun, but get there early or plan on standing!
(4)Amanda F.
Try the pretzels! They beat the ones in the mall! Soft warm dough covered in butter and Parmesan cheese there's nothing not to love about them. Their pizza list is quite extensive so you really can't go wrong with whatever pizza you order. If you are free try pint night. It can get quite crowded but it's a perfect chance to try different beers. Plus you get a souvenir glass to take home.
(5)Adam B.
Get the funky chicken and any of a great assortment of beers. One of the few places near downtown that offers private lot parking. Can't go wrong.
(5)Amanda B.
Okay so this is def a college bar/pizza joint which is cool but have low expectations for atmosphere. The wings were disgusting!!!!! Do not even bother...they are baked which is fantastic but they are straight out of a frozen bag and when you get them, the skin is just mushy fat!!! My husband loves wings and he couldn't eat them. On the other hand the pizza is fantastic!! Hubby had the meatball and I had the pazzo's calzone (tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms). Yum Yum Yum!!! Marinara that came with the calzone was awesome too! Skip the app's and dig into the pizza! Salads looked yummy, I peeked at a table next to us, looked fresh and delish!
(4)Craig U.
First off, this place is huge. Was not expecting that at all. I guess I didn't realize that it stretched behind several buildings there on S. Limestone. Decor is all shiny dark-stained wood. Very professional looking bar in appearance with several rooms to walk through and too many beers on tap to count. My friend recommended that we try a Meatball Sub and a Funky Chicken Calzone. I also had seen good reviews of the Pretzel appetizer on Yelp as well, so I decided to give it a shot. For $3, why the heck not. First off, the pretzels are HUGE. Loaded with butter and parmesan, and a nice real-bread taste (as in, possibly from a starter?). Not really hard and crusty like you would expect, more like a misshapen bread stick. The pretzels are definitely worth your time. The Meatball Sub was pretty good. I enjoyed that the part of the loaf cut out to make room for the meatballs was on the side and turned into a kind of bread stick. The meatballs themselves were average size, but they were tasty. They didn't have that store-bought flavor, so you can tell someone actually made them by hand. The cheese was layered on THICK. So thick that when I ate the other half the next day for lunch, I temporarily mistook it for a piece of meat. A little pricey for $9, but definitely tasty. My wife got the Funky Chicken Calzone, and boy was I jealous. It was about the same cost as my meal, but it was ENORMOUS. And the bread tasted a lot like the same bread they used for the pretzels. The innards consisted of shredded chicken and the most delicious garlic-alfredo sauce I have tasted in my life. She ended up eating leftovers of this at work for the next two days. Not that eating those giant pretzels hurt on that respect either. Most of the folks around us were getting pizza by the slice, which looked pretty good. We just wanted to try the fancy stuff. Wait staff here can be a little slow getting things started, but once they arrived they were very attentive and efficient. One even changed the channel per a customer request. I was quite pleased, as it resulted in watching a hockey game instead of ESPN highlights. Overall, very delightful. This place will definitely have to go into my rotation.
(4)Jesica L.
My coworkers told me this was the best pizza place in town. I was excited to try a new restaurant and my friends and I all ordered the lunch special- a jumbo slice of pizza and soup. My chili was ok. Nothing to write home about but not terrible either. We waited for longer than usual for our pizza slices and when they finally arrived I was so disappointed. The crust was almost see through thin, incredibly greasy and not good at all! It was so thin I could not pick it up to eat. The only reason I ate it was because I was so hungry not because it was particularly edible. On top of it all, they added generous amounts of Parmesan cheese all over my pizza which I do not like. I tried scraping off the Parmesan cheese and soaking up the grease the entire time. Terrible pizza + slow service means I won't come back here again.
(2)Sable B.
I wouldn't say my experience was wonderful or awful, it truly was a-ok. Nothing crazy to rave about. And maybe that's because I am jaded by delicious pizza offerings in Cincy, such as A Tavola and Adriatico's. And craft beer selections in Cincy are things I've never heard of and haven't tried yet, while Pazzo's offered a lot of things I have seen and tried. The service was fine, the pizza was good, and the beers I had were enjoyable.
(3)Amy W.
This is a great pizza joint-especially if you are a poor college student. Obviously Pazzo's caters to that crowd too, due to their location. The décor reflects this as well. On Saturday my friends and I were seated on the front patio. Our server didn't know that we were seated out there, because after 10 minutes I had to go track down the hostess to let her know that we hadn't seen our server yet. We were having a good time chatting, so it wasn't a big deal! She provided great service for the rest of the evening. However, the huge fan blowing on us during a somewhat chilly early evening was a nuisance! The pizza was hot, cheesy, yummy, and cheap! The four of us split a large one topping pizza and the total came out to $4.21 each.
(4)Jamie M.
First visit here and the pizza was pretty good. The pretzel appetizer was great. A cheese dipping sauce would have made it perfect. The pretzels are huge and the small order has three of them. They didn't have a kids menu, but I guess since it's in the middle of UK's campus that would be expected. It's a great location for the college and is a great spot for college kids to hang out and watch games.
(4)Heather P.
I can't believe that I waited so long to discover this place. The home and copy right holder of the name "Pint Night", each week they feature a different pint special. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't really elaborate about the hundreds of different beers that they seem to offer.Yes, it's close to campus and yes there are a lot of younger people, but I didn't feel out of place because there is a mixture of people. The pizza was excellent...very filling. The only downside is, the parking. They have a very small lot, once that's full, you have to park on the street. The are a lot of surrounding hot spots so the street parking is scarce too.
(4)Jagger R.
I visited Pazzo's while visiting my sister at the University of Kentucky, and it was delicious. I do not think I've ever tasted better cheese sticks at any other pizza place! I shared a small pizza with my sister and it was awesome! It was seasoned with Parmesan, cooked to PERFECTION, and was given to us quickly. Along with Parkette Drive-In, this is a great restaurant to visit while in Lexington!
(5)Meredith A.
Great beer selection - Kentucky Ale was the go-to given the circumstance. Pizza was delicious and the "small" size was plenty big for two people. The pretzels are a perfect choice for your appetizer and are much bigger than expected. Price was decent but expect to pay $4.50+ for one beer.
(4)Olwen C.
Beer selection is one of the best in town. Food is good, but every time I've been here I've either had something wrong with my order or it took a LONG time to be served. Could be great, but they have some staff training to do.
(4)Jon H.
Good food, but bad service. I would have rate this place higher even with the poor service, but it was beyond that. The bartender was rude. I walked in with a group of friends and the guy working behind the bar asked us why we were sitting down (in a very crapy tone) we said because we wanted a beer. He got even crappier and told us he was working on closing down and we should leave. Keep in mind they were still serving other guest around us. I didn't stick around, due to the attitude. I've gone back to get take out and food was good, but I can't take RUDE.
(2)Andrew Y.
3-stars, A-OK.This local pub is a decent hangout. They have the atmosphere, the patio, and enough of a diversity in beers. Fun place to have a few drinks, pizza and calzones are fairly decent. Food won't blow you away, but the environment is worthy of 3-stars.
(3)Chandler L.
A downtown classic! A ton of space, craft beer and great pizza. If you are ever on campus make sure to stop by and grab a slice.
(5)Jack T.
Not really sure what to say when it comes to this restaurant. I've been here six times and three of those times was some of the best pizza I've ever had and the other three times was maybe the worst. Long story short, if the pizza is not BURNT (which it apparently is HALF the time), the pizza is great.
(3)Thomas I.
Pint night here is cool. Just another fun thing to do in Lexington. But holy crap, what consistently TERRIBLE service. The hostess and wait staff seem completely disinterested all of the time. It's a busy spot downtown on a college campus and it's likely that all of the staff are college students but they do an awful job of making you feel welcome. The food is just okay. Overall pretty meh. Fix the service and it could be amazing.
(2)Derek L.
The beer selection here is awesome! Pizza is solid! The place is huge with a really cool atmosphere! Don't come here if you are in a hurry though. Every time I go it takes over an hour to get my pizza. But they have fantastic beers to make the wait more enjoyable!
(4)M R.
I love this place and have since I was in lex for college. I know there are what some may call "deficiencies", but I think the trick is to take the joint for what it is. Service can be slow, but the food is awesome and the beer selection can't be beat. I will always come back when I am in town.
(4)Chelsea L.
Great food! Service is consistent; yeah they're not overly attentive but they have three floors + a patio and one kitchen. Considering the volume of guests id say they do alright. Just know if you go here, be ready to indulge. Dieters beware, pretzels be comin for ya! (They're awesome with ranch!)
(5)Chad C.
Love this place. Pizza by the slice and beer by the pint or picher. Great atmosphere at a great price. I need a pazzo day. Wed Night is Pint night where they celebrate a specific beer on tap and you get free mugs with every pitcher ordered.
(5)Susan B.
Great beer list is not enough guys. Wrong drink order , double meat meant no visible meat, server was too busy chatting with her friend at the bar to check on things, manager rather than apologizing decided to debate things with us. Very disappointed. Won't be back there.
(1)Robert N.
As a supporter of local bistros/cafes/college pizza hangouts, I'm usually a big fan of Pazzos. Their mega meat pizza is the peanut butter to my goldfish. The issue has become the service. A college age woman had the genius idea to not bring a notepad to write out our order. She then decided after we had already ordered to get the pad and make us repeat everything. With great pizza and dookie service I've decided to give Pazzos three stars.
(3)Kandice G.
I found this place while working at UK. It is close to campus and a great time if alone or with a group. I don't think an explanation is needed for a group. As for alone, the atmosphere was perfect for me while writing.
(5)Tom D.
I have enjoyed their pizza selection several times and the beer selection is great. Beer menu includes descriptions to inspire trying something new each time. They used to have the ability to buy a "flight" of 6 samplers but I was disappointed to find this discontinued during my most recent visit. TIP: don't let them seat you in the lowest level as the low ceiling makes it virtually impossible to carry on a conversation without leaning in close. I was at a table with 8 people and could really only talk (yell) with those people sitting at my end of the table.
(3)Maggie T.
Always very packed. The pizza is good for KY- and they have a lot of different choices. Awesome place to watch the game. Just a rowdy place overall, which isn't surprising because it's on campus. If you watch any of the Sweet 16 games there, get there EARLY otherwise you can't get in.
(3)Joanne A.
Great pizza and beer menu. Only downside is the service can be questionable. We've had great service but usually it's pretty bad. It's all college students and most don't care about the customers.
(4)Rick F.
It took me three visits to this place to finally get a bartender's attention. The two times I could not get service I just walked over to Joe Bs for some average Pizza. Lexington does not know crap about pizza because they have never been to Italy, France or Spain and had the real thing. Pazzo's pizza must be covered in liquid smoke I did not see any wood fired ovens but even with the wood fired ovens of Europe there is not a smoke flavor. Also noticed half the beer drawn at Pazzo's goes down the drain. Had to tell the bartender to tilt the beer glass and pull back slowly on the tap. I hate a big head of foam and I hate to see beer go down the drain. Hope Tom trains his pourers better in the future they are costing him a bundle.
(2)Allison R.
Great specialty pizzas, lots of brews to choose from, casual, laid-back. No complaints here. Had The Great White pizza and loved it. Lots of outdoor seating for the warmer months too.
(5)Ceno E.
Has some pretty great tasting beers and the food isn't that bad either. They also have pint nights to help introduce people to some newer beers. They also several televisions for those interested in watching a game while eating.
(4)Jon T.
Good beer, decent food - great if you're into the bar scene.
(3)David S.
Came here for the 'infamous' pint night. We got a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted and two pint glasses for way less than the cost of a pitcher at most other places. Pizza was good, menu is reminiscent of Mellow Mushroom to me. I had a calzone and some pretzels, both of which I liked (and I was extremely full). Companion had a sandwich, and while she liked it she would not recommend getting a sandwich.
(5)Kevin S.
The food and beer selections here are decent as I've never been disappointed in either. I wouldn't say they are out of this world but I would say 4 on beer selection, 3 on food, and a 1 on service. When my wife and I have gone service has been okay but it seems that if you have a group of more than 4 it grinds to a halt. The last time we went was with a group of 8 and it took over an hour before everyone got their food.
(2)Dan G.
$12 pitchers of Alpha King?!? Surely, you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I remember this corner nearby campus for the epic dive of Tolly Ho and the drunken debauchery that we always seemed to find ourselves in at the U Club. Pretty hard to improve upon the Tolly Ho legend, but Pazzo's is well on its way. I'm a beer guy and I was pleased to see a most excellent selection on tap. I don't know if everyone appreciates the options that Pazzo's has for you. Pitchers? Check. A slew of Germans? Check. Some of the Midwest's finest craft beers like Bell's, Founders and Three Floyds? Check. I've only had the pizza here, and it was quite good. Whole wheat crust, cheesy. Pazzo's has parking around back and they've got a huge space. There are several different bars and patio options all around. I could see many late nights hanging out here having pizza and working through the taps. Everything is also very reasonably priced. Three pizzas and two pitchers was maybe $60.
(5)Jessica S.
I love pint night; pizza by the slice; the extensive beer selection and everything else about this place. When I lived in Lexington this was the place for a good beer and slice. Anytime I travel back home I hit up Pazzo's.
(5)Payge C.
The pizza is probably the only tolerable pizza in Lexington but the service is awesome.
(4)Leslie V.
Food is good but the service at lunch can be slow. Don't go there if you are in a hurry!
(4)Hua Z.
Food is just ok! Not impressive. But, the services are horrible! Takes one hour to get my food!!!
(2)Kim C.
the pizza was good. I had a Hawaiian Slice of Pizza...the crust was crispy and good. the service could be better. it took over half an hour to get our food. vibe is dark and depressing to me.
(3)Lee P.
The food was good, priced fair that went well with the excellent selection of beers. They have lots of fun events during the week. The new patio looks nice but it was a bit cold to eat there when i was there. The lay out is a bit confusing, I'm guessing they have expanded a few times since opening. Definitely has a fun atmosphere though. Seems to be busy every night.
(4)Allison R.
Great specialty pizzas, lots of brews to choose from, casual, laid-back. No complaints here. Had The Great White pizza and loved it. Lots of outdoor seating for the warmer months too.
(5)Ceno E.
Has some pretty great tasting beers and the food isn't that bad either. They also have pint nights to help introduce people to some newer beers. They also several televisions for those interested in watching a game while eating.
(4)Jon T.
Good beer, decent food - great if you're into the bar scene.
(3)David S.
Came here for the 'infamous' pint night. We got a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted and two pint glasses for way less than the cost of a pitcher at most other places. Pizza was good, menu is reminiscent of Mellow Mushroom to me. I had a calzone and some pretzels, both of which I liked (and I was extremely full). Companion had a sandwich, and while she liked it she would not recommend getting a sandwich.
(5)Kevin S.
The food and beer selections here are decent as I've never been disappointed in either. I wouldn't say they are out of this world but I would say 4 on beer selection, 3 on food, and a 1 on service. When my wife and I have gone service has been okay but it seems that if you have a group of more than 4 it grinds to a halt. The last time we went was with a group of 8 and it took over an hour before everyone got their food.
(2)Dan G.
$12 pitchers of Alpha King?!? Surely, you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I remember this corner nearby campus for the epic dive of Tolly Ho and the drunken debauchery that we always seemed to find ourselves in at the U Club. Pretty hard to improve upon the Tolly Ho legend, but Pazzo's is well on its way. I'm a beer guy and I was pleased to see a most excellent selection on tap. I don't know if everyone appreciates the options that Pazzo's has for you. Pitchers? Check. A slew of Germans? Check. Some of the Midwest's finest craft beers like Bell's, Founders and Three Floyds? Check. I've only had the pizza here, and it was quite good. Whole wheat crust, cheesy. Pazzo's has parking around back and they've got a huge space. There are several different bars and patio options all around. I could see many late nights hanging out here having pizza and working through the taps. Everything is also very reasonably priced. Three pizzas and two pitchers was maybe $60.
(5)Jessica S.
I love pint night; pizza by the slice; the extensive beer selection and everything else about this place. When I lived in Lexington this was the place for a good beer and slice. Anytime I travel back home I hit up Pazzo's.
(5)Payge C.
The pizza is probably the only tolerable pizza in Lexington but the service is awesome.
(4)Leslie V.
Food is good but the service at lunch can be slow. Don't go there if you are in a hurry!
(4)Hua Z.
Food is just ok! Not impressive. But, the services are horrible! Takes one hour to get my food!!!
(2)Kim C.
the pizza was good. I had a Hawaiian Slice of Pizza...the crust was crispy and good. the service could be better. it took over half an hour to get our food. vibe is dark and depressing to me.
(3)Lee P.
The food was good, priced fair that went well with the excellent selection of beers. They have lots of fun events during the week. The new patio looks nice but it was a bit cold to eat there when i was there. The lay out is a bit confusing, I'm guessing they have expanded a few times since opening. Definitely has a fun atmosphere though. Seems to be busy every night.
(4)David R.
Barreling down the highway at 85mph, I prefer to keep my full attention on the road. So, I chose Pazzo's because it was the first result for "Pizza" in "Lexington, KY" on my occasionally handy Yelp mobile app. And from what I have seen of Lexington Yelp, 21 reviews indicates a very popular place indeed. I also liked the choice because the map showed it in the middle of town, and if I were only going to stop long enough for dinner, I wanted at least to see some of the city on my way in and my way out. Convenient parking lot right across the alley? Great. Lots of patio seating? Also nifty. Although, I had spent most of the day in the sun and preferred a seat inside. They showed me to a relatively quiet corner in one of the side rooms, where there are also a couch and some easy chairs in addition to the round two-tops. They had calzones on the menu, so that was a lock. I wanted to try the pizza too, but they don't serve single slices at dinnertime. Appetizers were half-price until 7, so I ordered the (already cheap at $2.95) pretzels. This was listed as "(3)" but I did not expect three full-sized pretzels. Oops. Well, I ate all three--they were damn good, brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with parmesan, and served with marinara on the side. Think about that deal, by the way--$1.48 for a pretzel appetizer that could easily be shared by two people who just want something to nibble on while they drink beer and watch basketball. That said, I should have had a salad instead, because the calzone (pepperoni and green peppers) was a good size, and very doughy. I did finish it all, because I wasn't in a hurry, and it really was delicious. If this were a Chicago joint, I would slot them somewhere around #4 or #5 on my calzone list. The peppers were fresh and slightly crunchy, and the presence of ricotta did not diminish my enjoyment. Solid beer list--about three to four dozen drafts. My waitress was a little stiff at first but warmed up considerably. She kept coming by to check on me even after it was obvious that I wasn't going to order anything else and was merely struggling to fit everything into my gluttonous stomach. Final tally--$18 for two beers, the half-price pretzels, and the calzone with two ingredients. I love travelling to small cities.
(4)Gail B.
A late dinner here, it wasn't very busy but our service was terrible. Our server started by apologizing for taking so long to greet us. We placed our drink orders and she rolled her eyes when someone In our group couldn't decide on one of the vast selection of micro- brewed beers. She offered very little help in narrowing down the selection After waiting a long long time to get our drinks she came back one drink short cause she forgot what the order had been. Maybe write it down next time? The pizza took forever (big surprise) and when she brought a salad out early , no silverware was provided. Most of our group enjoyed the pizza, a Funky Chicken and Bootlegger pizza. More so the bootlegger. But I'm more of a traditionalist, I missed the red sauce and traditional toppings. I personally would try that if I ever came back. I didn't want to name the server specifically because she may have just been having a bad night, but it really did effect how I rated this review.
(2)Josh M.
Went here before Hugh ass. Could not get anyone to wait on me in two places inside. Moved on as I wanted a beer. Was a Sunday but open, I was not the only one saying things, just the only one that decided to move on then wait. Not sure I will go back anytime soon.
(2)Gordon F.
Excellent pizza here at a reasonable price, much better than one might expect from a pub-style restaurant. The selection of Belgian beers is way above average, make sure you at least get a Leffe or maybe a more expensive Belgian beer like a Delirium Tremens with your pizza while you're there. The pesto bread appetizer was delicious and was so filling we were hardly even hungry by the time our pizza arrived. The decor is awesome and the location is great. Just an overall great experience here. Note: I probably wouldn't bother coming here during a UK game, it's probably total chaos.
(5)Ashley G.
Best pizza in Lexington!! The pretzels appetizer is delicious. I am normally not a fan of BBQ pizza, but their BBQ Hawaiian is delicious!!!! I've had a variety of their pizza's and all have been spectacular! The only suggestion I make is to go with friends and get a whole pie, their individual slices are meh! Maybe they aren't fresh, I dunno, but you can taste a huge difference from a whole pie to a slice. Also the beer selection is amazing! Basically any beer you want, you can find here.
(5)S C.
For a college bar, the food was decent. Great service, too. Ordered chili and greek salad. Both were fresh. Big wide screen TV. Good place to watch a game and drink beer. Very wide selection.
(3)Ryan N.
This place has a pretty sweet atmosphere. It looks like a small place from the street, but it actually has lots of space inside. There are multiple levels to this place (stairs leading to each). Huge beer selection. Multiple bars. The pizza is okay. It's better than any other pizza I've had in Lexington, but I haven't tried many places yet. Decently priced. Pretzels are good.
(4)Jeff J.
I had read many reviews about Pazzo's and was eager to try the pizza. After placing our drink order it took early 15 minutes before our waitress returned to take an appetizer order. We ordered the pesto bread which was basically a hogtie bun you could get for any grocery store wit pesto and cheese....sadly it was very forgettable. We had to flag the waitress down again to get drink refills and tell her we wanted to place an order. She told us that she was sorry she wasn't giving us very much attention. We placed and order for a large cheese pizza. 49 minutes later after several ho-hum promises that it would be out in just a second our pizza arrived. The high hopes and long wait left us equally disappointed in the food as we were with the service. The crust was over cooked and dry. While we eagerly sought out our waitress for a drink refill we were encouraged about the future of our country while listening the the blabbering of some summer schooler who explained to her bored co-eds how 911 was planned by George Bush. In the end at least our hour and a half dining experience left us with a laugh. As for the food, it was as dismal as the service. Would not even give this place a second chance.
(1)Chris P.
Not bad! Good beer selection and the service was slow but they were kinda nice. Didnt get food but the beers were moving. Nice location right next to so many places to eat.
(3)Chris C.
Now look here. I write this review with extremely biased opinions, since this has basically been my second home / place of refuge for a good part of the past decade. Not only have i become friendly with bartenders and wait staff, but I have had numerous business and social meetings which have resulted in a ton of memories. That being said, let's get down to brass tacks. The pizza is good. Pesto Bread is really good. Beer selection is great, and the atmosphere is good for what it is. You can be a rowdy college student, a twentysomething, a professor or a family of 6 and come here and be happy. You could also be that same myriad of demographics and come here and be mad. This place can be anywhere from family friendly to downright chaotic. All depends on timing and UK sporting events. Wednesday from 6 til 10 is going to be packed because of pint night. All things considered, this is a great pizza joint with a great beer selection - the best in the downtown area for a restaurant - and it could be argued that Pazzo's (and Tom, its owner) helped spawn the craft beer movement in Lexington. Get some pie, don't get in a hurry, and have a pint or three. It's a great place....just be patient and kind to the wait staff. If you're in a hurry, go to pizza hut.
(4)Megan C.
I love me some Pazzos. They have delicious pizza (probably my favorite in Lexington), and they've recently expanded to an additional room and patio which really helps with the crowd, especially on pint night. They've got 40 beers on tap at any given time in addition to a full service bar. Pint night, Wednesdays, always packs a crowd, but it's definitely an event worth checking out. The beer of the night comes with souvenir pint glasses that you get to take home with you. There's a really fun, pub-y atmosphere, and they always play Kentucky games. (of course they do, being three steps away from campus and not playing Kentucky games would be a new level of blasphemy). Service is usually slow, but for me, the pizza makes up for it.
(4)Olivia W.
I have come and gone from Pazzo's often. I enjoy the patio, the beer selection and the atmosphere. It is laid back and chill. However I do not think their food is that great. It is fine, not amazing but not horrible. Every time I eat there I having a feeling of "eh." I have started to use it as a place to just drink.
(3)S W.
Great pizza and calzone. The services less than friendly, perhaps normal for a college pizza joint. The beer cheese appetizer was a bit disappointing, but the pizza made up for it.
(4)Brian S.
Ate here many times while in college. Can be very busy on Pint Night or during games, but there are times when the place will be dead. The pretzels are a definite must-have, and their pizza is great. If you're seated upstairs, you can even see the mixer they use to make the crust (no frozen dough here). Beer selection is enormous.
(4)Ryan P.
Pazzo's is by far my favorite place for beer in the entire state of Kentucky. With 45 beers on tap, and well over 100 more in bottles, it certainly is a beer mecca. All beers are served in clean appropriate glassware, and the bar staff are knowledgeable about the beers they serve. Prices on beer are certainly fair as well. I also love Pazzo's food. The pizzas are amazing, especially the funky chicken. Usually when I'm here though, I stick with appetizers. During happy hour, they're half off, so it's a great time to enjoy an order of pesto bread, wings, or some of their fantastic pretzels. The best and worst time to come to Pazzo's is on Wednesdays for pint night. Buy a pitcher of the special beer, and take two glasses home. From the 160 or so beer glasses in my collection, I bet at least half came from pint night trips to Pazzo's when I was in college. The only bad part is that they've become super popular over the years, especially when UK is in session, so you must get there super early and be prepared for less than stellar service from the overworked staff. Some pint nights, you may not even be able to get a table for 2+ hours (happened to me once). For the most part, the staff are friendly, although I've had a few that weren't so pleasant over the years. Tom the owner is a great guy, so if you see him, chat him up. He runs a great business and I'll always be a regular, even though I live almost an hour away!
(5)John W.
Absolutely the worst service in Lexington. The McDonalds down the street is five star compared to this. What a joke. 45 minutes for two pizza slices. Seated in the dark when we requested the mostly empty patio. Manager refused to speak with me. Don't waste your time here. You can get pizza, pasta, and beer anywhere. Mellow Mushroom is right around the corner. This was our fourth and last visit. Five stars for having the same level of non service every time. Did I mention that in all that time we were served NO food???
(2)Mike W.
Pazzo's, along with Tally's and Henry Earl, are Lexington institutions. Mister Earl probably has not had the chance to partake in Pazzo's awesomeness, which is really a shame. Now, I know I'm going to get lambasted for this, but I don't think Pazzo's pizza is anything fantastic. I'm not going to say it's bad, because it's not - but people seem to rant and rave about it like its the best thing to happen to pizza since cheese. Pizza is a fantastic accompaniment to beer though, so even if its only 70% awesome on its own it will taste amazing. And oh, the beer selection. Pazzo's has one of the more impressive beer selections in the area. You can almost certainly find one, if not dozens, of varieties you've never had before. If you manage to make it during happy hour or Pint Night, you can have your fill for a relatively inexpensive price. Sadly Pazzo's is not without it's downsides. While parking is usually fine on weekdays, on weekends it can be a bit of a joke. If you live on campus, you're better off walking. Even when it's not busy, the service at Pazzo's is somewhat slow. I guess that's not so bad if you and friends are enjoying a beer and shooting the breeze, but if you came there just to eat dinner you will have a slightly than longer wait. Also, with a billion TVs and a billion college kids crammed in, the place can get a little loud. They have a patio outside that fits the bill if you're looking to have a quieter evening, but it is abhorrently hot on a summer day - it's more like a greenhouse. Ahh, college!
(4)Tastybeverages T.
I have to say I love this place. I have been going there for years and have almost every selection on the menu. All in all, the pizzas and sandwiches are great, and the beer selection is top notch. My only problem has always been a problem, which is that they have sketchy service from time to time. I have come to expect it, and the beer takes the pain away.
(4)Eli S.
Dear Pazzo's, My brother and I visited you from Columbus about 7 mos ago and we still talk about you and miss you. Your pizzas are what dreams are made of and I cherish the glasses I bought from you to this day. The service was outstanding ( I know, I was a server for 12 years ). Thank you for giving me such wonderful, lasting, tasty memories. I hope to see you soon. When anyone asks me where the best pizza place is around here I tell them that if they don't mind driving 3 hours, they can have the best pizza they have or will ever taste. I show them my glasses as proof. I may make a trip down there just to see you and drive back. - Eli
(5)Dean S.
good not
(1)Mike R.
Total failure in service, sorry. The food was ordered properly, but the kitchen messed up the order and produced the wrong food. The server said he was sorry, and that it would be out in 7 minutes. After 20 minutes, the food came and the server made no apologies. It was lunch rush and I had a meeting to get to so asked for a box and was give a tiny box. I had to point out to the server that our food to go would not even fit in that box. I said that I would like a check and a discount since it took over 1 hour to get one medium pizza and he seemed put out and said it would take a while as he would have to get a manager. A restaurant has to deal with problems, and good restaurants know how to do this. Pazzo seemed to have no way to deal with this with generally horrible service and had no available manager. I did not see a manager anywhere so perhaps the serve was correct. No apology, no compensation, and a really bad attitutde. Horrible service, wont be heading there any tie soon.
(1)Andrew K.
Pazzos Special pizza - bunch of meat and a few good veggies, is definitely worth a try if you find yourself at Pazzo's. I really liked the pretzels (breadsticks) and marinara sauce. Our waiter was great Atmosphere was laid back Lots of tvs And they have decent parking as well! The main downside is the noise level here. Certainly not a quiet destination.
(4)adam p.
Hit Pazzo's up for happy hour, they have it 7 days a week from 4-7. Pretzels are great and 3 huge ones are a mere buck and a half, gota love college towns! Also the beer selections is massive with 15ish on tap and about 100 in the bottle. If you can put up with the ditzy college kids serving the food its a true winner! The big patio and free parking in a busy area was also a plus!
(4)Jon M.
Being from Seattle, I may not be the foremost authority on what most consider to be "good" pizza. I see what the purists like. I see what the new-agey pizza people like in places like CPK. My first visit to Pazzo's came in the summer of 2008, when I visited Lexington for the first time with a very good friend who lived in Louisville. Being a UK grad, she immediately recommended it. And I fell in love. With the pizza, of course. It was everything I ever wanted. Hand-made. Perfect balance of cheese, sauce, and toppings, not going overboard on the non-traditional toppings. My friend, Melissa, had ordered a calzone, which I then ate when she was out of town for a few days. :D The next time I went was about a week later with our friend, Kristie. Going here was a reward for helping her out. And in addition to the pizza, I delved into the beer selection. Let me tell you, it is tough picking a beer from a fairly large selection is tough. Aside from the at-times-slow service (lunch hour, happy hour), this is an amazing place. It has everything I want in a pizza place....good food, good beer, good people.
(5)Mike D.
Beer List - Uh MAZIN Pizza - stupore (amazing) Service - worse than an Applebee's, and probably stoned (oh, college...) not necessarily the servers though. like anywhere it depends. Decor- the front bar is great, the new addition smells like a frat house and has the gross wet floors to boot Pint Night - a titanic waste of time, stay away. This place is a total Jeckyll & Hyde. I want to give it 4 stars but when most of the clientele are obnoxious frat boys and most of the service is comatose at best it makes it difficult.
(3)Morgan M.
Before the comments of hatred ensure, let me start by saying I'm a true blue Lexingtonian and a UK grad. Yesterday I patronized Pazzo's for at least the bazillionth time in my 8 years of living here, and had by far the worst experience yet. I say "yet" because in my experience Pazzo's certainly does not pride itself on service, and why would they? Clearly they are the niche go-to for a second-to-none selection of pizza and beers (read the other reviews...they are 99.9% focused on the product, not the service), and being that the staff appear largely strung out, they don't seem to care. My party of 5 arrived for dinner to a not very crowded restaurant, just in time for happy hour. A couple people ordered drinks, and a couple appetizers were ordered as well. 45 MINUTES LATER I pulled our server aside (who had come by once to refill drinks) and (at a loss for words at the negligence of the situation) bluntly asked "Where are our appetizers?" Reacting as if I'd slapped her across the face, she offered to check, returning moments later to apologetically inform us that they'd been taken to the wrong table (and she never noticed until I brought it to her attention???) and would be taken off the bill. Another 15 minutes later, we finally had our appetizers. An exhausting 20 minutes later, we had our food, except that the medium pizza myself and a friend were splitting had somehow been misinterpreted as a small. How this is plausible when the other two pizzas at the table were ordered and delivered correctly as mediums is beyond me. This was remedied by second small pizza packaged to-go. Whew! I was so relieved to leave that I was almost not annoyed by the parking Nazi out back, as he was willing to accept our pizza boxes as evidence of patronage rather than making us dig out receipts. The moral of the story is, low expectations lead to pleasant experiences.
(2)Brad F.
How do I begin to describe Pazzo's... It's more of a state of mind than a restaurant. Big Tom the owner likes to the provider of lexington's largest beer menu especially weighted with Belgian superior ales. He even takes frequent vacations to Belgium, which really reflects the mood of this place. Now the food is your pretty general pizza and heavy bar food. Nothing wild, but goes down well with just about any ale or lager you picked from a list of ~140. Here's the rules if you want to dine or drink at Pazzo's: Don't go on a Wednesday after 5 if you don't want to play/fight the Pint Night game(you'll have an atrocious time getting anything from behind the bar.) If you want to play the game, get there around 430 and secure a table and never waste an opportunity to send your waiter to the bar. Cheers!
(4)Sean B.
As mentioned, great selection of beer on tap and better than average pizza. Big ass pretzels are also very popular here. A great place to watch the game or have some beers with friends.
(3)Talon H.
On paper, whole grain pizza may not sound to appealing to most people. Give it a chance and you just may be surprised.
(4)Jeff R.
You can order a slice of cheese pizza and wait twenty minutes. Cheese pizza. And why do they brush butter over the pizza? At least the beer list is decent. I had Alpha King on tap last time I was there. That alone gets Pazzo's a star.
(3)Jenny H.
Good pizza, good beer, reasonable prices.
(4)Kalie B.
Tasty hoagies! Great beer menu! Service was slow but it was opening weekend at Keenland and it was packed. Would definitely come back and try more of their menu on a slower night.
(4)Landon C.
I don't know that I've ever had good service here. Definitely a college-town pizzeria. But the pizza is great, and though it's a tad expensive it's always worth it. Don't expect good service and you can't go wrong here.
(3)