We decided to go out to dinner and got there a little after six. I will say I was surprised at how busy they were . The hostess and server were both super friendly and we were sat quickly . Our food arrived hot and fresh. Both of us got the bread sticks along with chicken parmesan . Those bread sticks were HUGE&came with melted garlic butter on the bottom of the dish. The pasta was cooked just right and the chicken was moist&was really good ! We sat in a booth and my feet didn't touch the floor lol. For reference I'm only 4'10". I did stop on the way out to buy a tee shirt to send back home to my best friend in New York. read more

Bread Sticks!!! Best garlic for those butter breadsticks you've ever had in your life, homemade salad dressing and the pasta Is even the best!!! read more

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The owner was not nice he was very rude and also the place had nats all over the place I was not able to eat my food in peace without flys and nats flying over my food the breadsticks was good but I didn't like how the owner was very rude and raciest to us black African American people. read more

If you've ever wanted to crush a large pizza in a church without the guilt, Joe Bologna's is your holy grail. This Lexington institution has been serving up pies and salvation for over 50 years--and let me tell you, I now believe in miracles. First of all, the ambiance. You're literally eating pizza in a converted church. Stained glass, cathedral ceilings, and enough echo to hear your stomach growl three pews away. It's like a food pilgrimage. I half expected to be offered communion in the form of garlic bread. Now, the pizza: I got a large thin-crust with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, and banana peppers--a combo so divine I briefly considered naming it "The Holy Quad." The crust was crispy perfection, and every topping tasted like it was hand-picked by a Tuscan grandmother who doesn't put up with low-quality anything. And THEN. The domestic draft beer. A whole pitcher of Miller Lite for $11?? That's not a price--it's a public service. I drank enough to feel baptized in barley. Big shout-out to our server, Da, who was an absolute legend. She handled our table like a pro, laughed at our dumb jokes (or at least pretended to), and kept our drinks filled like she had ESP for empty glasses. TL;DR: Come for the pizza, stay for the ambiance, and prepare to leave full, happy, and slightly buzzed in the most reverent way possible. Joe B's is a Lexington treasure, and I'll be back anytime I need a religious experience with sausage and banana peppers. Amen and pass the parmesan. read more

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They have the best Bread Sticks and the most delicious Fettuccine Alfredo I have had anywhere in the world including Italy. Kind of a whole in the wall type place with the best food. Live this place read more

A Lexington (maybe even more a UK) institution for many, many years. Right by campus so an easy walk for students...or visiting parents! Their signature breadsticks are a must (soaked in garlic butter is good, but add the marinara dip!). Pizzas are, well, just a quality pie. Good crust, nice topping selection and portions...hits the spot beautifully with a nice country boy beer while watching a game. Super casual vibe. Service can be a little slow (space is bigger than it looks, to be fair), but is always friendly. A must-visit at least once. read more

Joe Bologna's - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Place has a great historic pizza restaurant vibe. The Sicilian pizza was perfect. Dough was pillowly, without being dense; crispy edges all around, covered in a light sauce and cheese. Service was quick and friendly. read more

Joe Bologna's - Super , big and delicious breadstick - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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We stopped by before a gymnastics meet on a Friday night. All businesses around were rather busy which is understandable. We waited for about 20 minutes, finally got to order our food but it took over an hour to get. We actually wanted to go to the gymnastics meet as well and we missed half of it. The food isn't good. They are known for their special breadsticks but it's just a flavorless log slathered in better. The marinara sauce is bitter and doesn't taste good. The pizza is bland and tastes like every cottage style pizza in the Midwest. The experience was pretty awful, I gave one additional star because the server was nice. The place was really busy and an obvious local favorite which I don't understand but people like different things. read more

Joe Bologna's - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The breadstick with garlic butter is as good as it always was!! But....the pasta dish I ordered was terrible. Linguini was mushy and the marinara sauce was very dark brown and burned tasting. Definitely does not seem like an authentic recipe to me and is not near as good as it was in the past. The service was stellar, however. read more

This place is shady. They charge a $7.50 "packaging fee" on a To go order of 2 pizzas. A complete ripoff and not a good business practice. And they don't tell u it's just a surprise on the receipt. Avoid this place unless u like giving money to shady sneaky restaurant owners. read more

I've had the pizza a couple times before, but dined in for the first time today. The atmosphere is supposed to be "cool", but I found it rather unpleasing as it's just dark and old. The food is alright, really only eat here for location convenience. Service was slow, but the people were very nice. read more

Stopped there on a late Saturday night with my daughter and I had a great time. At first, I had ordered six of the breadsticks, not knowing how big they actually were and the waitress graciously said she would get us three at first and see how we liked them which intern was a great recommendation as six Were Way too much as 3 were really, really big We then ordered a 8 inch. Margarita pizza and my daughter had spaghetti with marinara the kids menu. The food was simply fantastic, hot and delicious as someone who's never eaten here. I have to say it is very family friendly. . At the end of the night, my daughter had to use the bathroom and we left our food on the table and by pure accident. Our food was taken away and cleaned off after we got back and they realized it they graciously gave my daughter another plate of spaghetti. . I cannot say enough, how great that place is and I recommended to anybody that can go there on a Saturday night Joe Bologna's is the best place to go here in Lexington read more

The food quality has went down honestly. Idk if the new owner is using cheaper ingredients or changed recipes but just didn't taste like the buffalo chicken pizza I remember. read more

The food wasn't bad, a little pricey like everything at this point. The downside to this restaurant is the guy that stands outside of it and yells at you for parking in the parking lot to go into the restaurant. You spend $40 a person for a sandwich, and you get yelled at when walking back to your car to let you know you're not allowed to park in the parking lot. This guy needs to be fired. It is ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a club sandwich and then get yelled at after you eat it for walking to your car. Not sure I will come back. I definitely would not recommend anybody to go unless you lie. Getting yelled at for no reason. I wasn't even parked in their parking lot.I was on the street. read more

I would avoid giving this restaurant any money. Came here with a dozen relatives and you would think they'd be happy for the business but the waiter threw his arms up in frustration. Multiple food items were missing, which they fixed promptly. But the food that did come out (especially any pasta dishes) were cold and watery. After paying hundreds to eat there (big party) we were all talking for 10 minutes tops after the bill was paid and the owner asked up to leave (politely) and on our way out the hostesses were gossiping with customers about how "RUDE" we were for not leaving right away. There were elderly people in our party that could not move very fast and it felt like we paid a bunch of money just to get microwave quality food and pushed out of the restaurant. 0/10 read more

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Kentucky. It has huge stain glass windows from when it was converted from a church or other religious building - really cool. My wife loves the potato soup. The breadsticks with a pool of butter are epic! The people are wonderful and the Owner is nice great guy. Every time we are in or passing through, we have to stop by. Pizza and manicotti are wonderful as well. This is a family restaurant too, so kid friendly. read more

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THEY HAVE GONE TO HELL!! DO NOT EAT at this restaurant they don't answer their phones and if you can get through the pizza you pick up is undercooked, run don't walk to another pizzeria. In addition they're charging a packaging fee, $4.05 for a sandwich and a small pizza. read more

Joe Bologna's - Packaging Fee Charges - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I think it is so funny that my last review in 2015 started with "I'm guessing my loved ones will find me face down in a bowl of garlic butter here." In 2023 I feel that could still be 100 percent true! Piazza is personal experience, we do an 8x10 pan with everything but anchovies with extra sauce, extra cheese and garlic butter on the side. This trip was excellent, with had a server who has been there forever and she was spot on for all points of drinks and food. We were able to park easily in their private lot. I love eating in an old church I tell my friends it is a religious experience! read more

Have been going to Joe's since it opened; just as good now as it was then. GREAT Chicken Parm. New owner chatted with us a while... Joe B's is in good hands... and Italian heritage! read more

Great food and exceptional service I experienced here yesterday and will definitely return for lunch again! read more

Joe Bologna's - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Excellent lasagna and pizza. Great service and atmosphere plenty of parking. Spinach salad is a winner.

Let's start with the breadsticks... which is how they start you when your order goes in. And as breadsticks go, these are up there as maybe the best in Lexington. They are huge, and soft, and come swimming in a little bathtub of butter. Yes I know, I said the "b" word but believe me... it is worth the indulgence. Next, you try not yo eat all your breadstick at one time so that you'll have room for the Hawaiian Pizza or maybe the lasagne or the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken-- which, coincidentally is exactly ehat our party of three ordered yhis evening. And this place gets a special nod of appreciation from me because, YES, they do serve Pepsi products, which happen to be my go to. So many places only serve Coke products. The shame. The disappointment. Lol. But Joe B's came through for me. As for price point- well perhaps a bit pricy for casual dining - my 12 inch pizza rang up ay a cool $20 and the two cannolis I plan to order later to share with my hubby at home-- they will set you back another $8. But if you are fortunate as we are tonight, to have one of your adult children taking care of the tab... well, two cannolis it is then! Get on out to Joe Bolognas. So much good food to choose from. The only reason I didn't award then a full five stars is because of the stairs which could be a bit difficult to navigate for folks like me. But as for the casual dining atmosphere and the quality of the food-- five star all the way. read more

By far some of the best pizza ever! The crust is perfectly crispy but still fluffy at the same time! The sauce is perfect balance of sweet and tangy! The best by far is the garlic butter bread! So simple yet so good! Definitely cannot wait to visit again soon! read more

Joe Bologna's - Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Joe B's may have been a Lexington classic, but what it has become now is just a terribly over priced and run down experience. Girls night a few weeks ago brought me here. I ordered lasagna. $20 just for some pasta, I was thinking I would at least get lunch the next day out of it. The lasagna is served as a square in a very small dish and my piece was the burnt ends. I could not have been less pleased to pay $20, leave hungry, and no leftovers. read more

Was happy to see a busy restaurant as it usually means good food but don't judge a book by its cover. Had spaghetti meatballs and got a reheated portion after waiting about and hour for it. Pasta was actually burned crispy to the side of the plate. Wife and kid had pizzas. Bases clearly pre produced and not fresh and handmade. Never an offer to fill soft drinks. Waiter disappeared and had to ask other staff repeatedly to pay. Aside from the above the acoustics are terrible so everyone talks louder and louder to hear each other. Thiamin's my first review ever on Yelp but this was such a disappointment that I had to chime in. read more

The Fat Man and his wife decided to get some pasta and pizza one night. Lexington has no better place than Joe Bologna's Restaurant & Pizzeria. Joe Bs has been a Lexington staple for 50 years now. They serve pizza, salads, pasta, large breadsticks, and desserts. They offer Pepsi soft drinks and an assortment of draft and bottled beer. I ordered the lasagna, and it was great. A simple hamburger and sausage and their sweet marinara sauce. The noodles were cooked perfectly, and the flavor was excellent. I also had a salad to go with my meal. It was a small side salad served on a chilled plate. The breadstick they served to us was perfect. It had a great chew, and the garlic butter they put on it added to the flavor. I also enjoyed a Miller Lite while we were there. My wife had a salad as well. We both had French dressing, which they make their own. She also tried the combination of manicotti and cannelloni. Both pastas were cooked to a perfect al-dente. The cheeses in the manicotti were salty and creamy, while the spinach in the cannelloni added some texture and flavor to the pork and beef mixture. We also ordered a pepperoni pizza. The crust was crunchy and chewy. The pizza sauce was a little sweet and zesty, the cheese was melted and gooey, and the pepperoni had good spice and salt levels--just a great pie. This summer, Joe B. is going to retire. It is much earned and well deserved. Unfortunately, he will no longer be cooking his fantastic food. So run, do not walk to see Joe, and eat his food. I hear there have been a few offers, so we will see if the restaurant stays open. However, even if nothing changes and the new owners cook the same way, it will never be the same as it is now. Joe's is an institution and a treasured foodie joint in Lexington. I have never had a bad meal there, and the service has always been top-notch. Thank you for such a great food over the years, Joe; you and your restaurant will be greatly missed. The Fat Man says that Joe Bologna's Restaurant & Pizzeria is Fat Man Approved with 3 chins. read more

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Came here with family, and looked at the menu for a while. Really liked the sound of one of the subs but then i noticed the chicken primavera. I really wanted that sub and regardless of the price difference (the chicken primavera being $27 you would expect it to be pretty grand) i chose the chicken premavera. It took over an hour for us to actually get food. Regardless of the wait i gave rhe benefit of the doubt. I just can't even put into words how disappointing that dish was. It had absolutely no flavor, and the caption was misleading.85% pasta 10% vegetables 5% chicken. i just don't understand where this $27 even came from. The atmosphere was good but my meal was crap. My boyfriend got a sub and i tried it and it was meh. I was amazed to find out this is how they intended it to look and taste... this dish was Just really sorry. brutally honest review. read more

Joe Bologna's - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Came out to Joe Bologna's with a friend for the first time and it was pretty average, but I can see it being fun with family or larger groups of friends. We both got 8-inch pizzas but it was not anything out of the ordinary. The service was friendly and the ambiance is classic American-Italian. Overall, it was okay! read more

Joe Bologna's - Thin crust pepperoni and pineapple pizza (8-inch) - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Joe's has been sore that my family has gone since I was a kid. The best part about this establishment is that it sticks to what it knows and still creates a level of authenticity and ambiance that is not only relevant to today's Lexington culture but when it first opened. Having not had Joe in over five years, I was nervous that it wouldn't be like what it was but of course they came through! The breadsticks were even better than I remember the homemade marinara sauce and olive oil. I had a personal lunch size pizza, which was cooked to perfection and hot. I can't wait to go back! And of course the service was wonderful! I did ask about sitting upstairs but they said that wasn't an option - a bit bummed but not mad! read more

Joe Bologna's - Breadstick with Marinara - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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This was my first time here; we came for the breadstick and was not disappointed! It had the right amount of crispy with soft on the inside and the garlic butter was finger licking good. We also got two pies, one regular and one thin crust; both were very tasty. read more

Joe Bologna's - One Garlic Breadstick - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Really interestingly good casual Italian food. The sandwiches and the pizzas are both really good. Can't forget the breadstick

Been coming here since the 80's for consistently great food and service by Joe Bologna himself and tonight was a catastrophe. Waited an hour only to find out we had been scratched off the waiting list. After seating, waited 30 minutes for drinks and an hour for food. Breadstick dough was raw, informed 30 minutes after ordering that kitchen was out of many items and one dish of pasta was served ice cold in the middle. Definitely no longer the beloved restaurant that Joe left behind after he retired. Really disappointed. read more

My wife did a pickup order for pizza and breadsticks from Joe Bologna's. The pizza was actually pretty good, but the breadsticks were not good, with much of that was the time from pickup to arrival. The biggest issue I had (by far) was being surprised by a "packaging fee" of over $30 on a little over $200 in pizzas. Several others on here have shared similar feelings on packaging fees. To be perfectly blunt, I will never order from here again, nor will I dine in. I was not happy with this surprise. Beware! Our bill would have been half at any other pizza location in town. read more

I do not recommend ordering takeout from this restaurant. The new owners now not only now charge a fee for garlic butter but add a "packaging fee" for the carry out boxes! What cheapskates. read more

Always loved the place, bread sticks, hoagies. Recently just wanted to pick up a couple of bread sticks to go. Imagine my shock when it was between 9 and 10 dollars. Is there a different price for carry out as 2 x 3 dollars doesn't come close? But the packaging fees sure don't help. May try eating in but never get any carryout again. read more

Love a Lexington classic! Perfect for a big group after move in. Got multiple deep dish pizzas and the whole group left stuffed. Want to go back and try the pasta but the crust on the pizza was amazing! read more

Great food great staff! If you're in town don't leave without a bread stick and pizza! The staff is excellent. You will leave satisfied!

My go to place in Lexington since the 70's has been run into the ground by the new owners. Yesterday's visit was marked by poorly prepared food and comical service. Sadly, I won't be back. read more

My first visit here was a few weeks ago. I understand why it has been a favorite spot Lexington . Great food and very knowledgeable service staff. We met Joe while leaving. He reported that he'll be staying on until the new owners are trained and up and running. Can't wait to see how this place develops in the future read more

Love this place. It has been roughly 25 years since I have eaten here. It is a restaurant in a converted historic church building. The service was great and really friendly, but really slow and didn't like that she didn't wear a mask. I ordered the Spaghetti with Meatballs & Meat Sauce ($14.50). It was better than I remembered. The sauce is homemade and the they are famous for their giant breadsticks. The breadsticks comes on a small dish in a bath of melted butter and garlic. All dinners served with one garlic breadstick and a tossed salad. I did an extra breadstick ($1.95) and went with ranch for the salad. I would say a definite place to eat when in Lexington. Good food and great prices. read more

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