I went here to try their bagels... they were great! Although they were great they were not very filling. I would suggest getting a starter with your bagel. We also waited around 45 minutes for 2 bagels. One was bacon egg and cheese and the other was steak egg and cheese. I understand that there can be problems in the kitchen and lots of places are understaffed, but I would have appreciated a heads up. Being more transparent about wait times makes people more forgiving. Overall it was a good experience, I would come back to try more items. read more

Pearl's - Bacon eggs and cheese on a poppy see bagel, steak egg and cheese on a salt bagel. - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I've been several times and each time it's been amazing. First I went for lunch and got the Hellbabe. Crust is great, toppings were so good! Highly recommend. Today I went for breakfast. I didn't thing it could get better than the pizza but the Smoked Brisket Sandwich was SO good. Lots of toppings. Wish I lived in town so I could eat it more! Love that they use amazing ingredients and support Black Soil KY. Service was quick and friendly! read more

The bagels were good, not New York good, but still flavorful. The cream cheese options were great! Loved the horseradish one, just different. The scallion one didn't have much flavor unfortunately. The cost for the sides of cream cheese was...expensive for what you got. Service staff was very friendly. The vibe on the inside of the restaurant was everything you could want. The bacon egg and cheese bagel was pretty dang good. Aside from the small cream cheese sides, my biggest annoyance was the 20% service charge they tack on top and EVERY SINGLE ORDER. They try to play it off, but it was just a really tacky way imo to either pay their employees a mandatory tip and then not pay them minimum wage or a way to force every patron whether carrying in or out to pay service staff. Either way, I was not a fan of that. Just add it to your prices and don't try to justify nickel and diming your customers. read more

Very sad although mostly my fault. Got there at 11 on a Saturday (so I should've known better I guess) but they were sold out of bagels by the time I was there. So they are obviously awesome wish I could've tried one so if you want a bagel on a weekend get there early. read more

This place is SO CUTE. I really enjoy how unique the design and branding are - it really helps give this restaurant a personality. The pizza is fabulous! Their togo boxes are also cute. read more

Just coming back for my monthly update of a 5-star review & new photo for Pearl's. Literally they can do no wrong. read more

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Adding gratuity automatically to every check during brunch seems like something employees here use as an excuse to ignore guests. They didn't tell us gratuity was added, so we ended up tipping twice. Also, why were we required to tip 20% when there are no servers? Who does that money go to? Tables aren't cleaned between guests. They didn't give us our drinks so we had to go back up to the cashier and ask for them. 3 employees ignored me for a couple minutes when I went back up to ask for those drinks. Also quite noisy inside when it's busy. The veggie bagel with an egg was good, but I wouldn't come back. read more

One of my all time favorites! I always order the wedge salad, old no 1, and hellbabe. Their homemade ranch is a must have side for any pizza!! Their sidewalk seating is always a good vibe on a sunny day in Lex. Can't wait to go back and get their bagels in the morning read more

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Incredible pizzas that rotate frequently so you're never bored of the selection. It's a small place and can get pretty loud. Good beer selection. Waitstaff are decent but must have too many tables. They are always hustling but not the most responsive - hey, if you want someone to hover - go somewhere else. They have a limited number of oysters but when you can get them they are awesome. read more

First trip to Lexington for work and my hotel is close by. I used Yelp often while traveling and I searched vegan food close to my hotel and Pearls quickly came up. I walked here and so happy I found this place! The vegan Caesar is outstanding -very fresh and delish! My server recommended Purl's pick and customized vegan and spicy. The pizza was fresh and delicious. read more

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TRY HARD FOOD-HOW BOUT DAT. When prompted for a check I was told 20% gratuity was added by default. For a large party I understand but for a table of one I feel this was presumptive. When I mentioned this I was met with the question of" do you have a problem." The attitude was so spiteful I felt if I said yes the staff member was going to reply with "cash me outside." 2 star food 1 star service An uppity staff serving below average food. I really wanted to be surprised..... and I was in a negative fashion. Don't go, save the money and hit up "Rat pizza and child casino" also known as Chucky Cheese. read more

True Italian style pizza that's perfect for 1-2 people dependent on how hungry you are. Probably the better pizza place in Lexington although Lexington really lacks the Pizza talent. If you're looking for a great place with a cool atmosphere, this would be the best pizza place downtown. GoodFellas is obviously the go-to pizza, but very average and one way ticket to the bathroom. read more

Pearl's - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great Food. Weak Service. 20% Gratuity automatic...I am a food service guy, and worked in Restaurants and have served for 2 decades. I am a low maintenance person, am polite to a fault. Was there on 1/26/24...The waiter was lazy, and effectively non attentive...Weak sauce. The salads, pizza's and drinks were awesome. Please-try harder for your front of house folks they seem bothered to provide anything over the canned minimal effort-I don't need to be wowed, or over helped-just be present and try not to act so bored. read more

I feel like I've been duped. The bagel was fine, but way overpriced for both size and cream cheese put on it. Also, do not get tacos, embarrassing how small it was for the cost. On top of that there is an automatic 20% gratuity tacked on regardless of it being to go. $18 for undersized bagel and taco is robbery. I will not be back. read more

Pearl's - Egg Taco(s)? - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Pearls is 10/10 amazing. The atmosphere is so laid back and cute. The staff is so attentive. It was recommended to us by a local and it did not disappoint. The food is really good, everything tastes homemade! Amazing food and drinks! So good!! I highly recommend!! read more

Pearl's - Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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My favorite downtown Lexington restaurant. Great pizza, great wine, great service -- what more do you need?

This has to be THE BEST VEGAN PIZZA IN THE CITY!! From the vegan cheese to the vegan sausage was so delicious!! The sauce that was used was also amazing. it's so hard to find a restaurant that can provide a great vegan pizza and tailor it to you. And pearl's is the place that will let you customize any of their pizzas and make it vegan. And I want to say thank you for making us feel welcoming. And not like it's a hassle. read more

Pearl's - Hellbabe made vegan - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Food: going to give pizza abt a 4/5, bc thatsxwhat we had, service: 1st person who sat us not friendly but two others who took care of us were warm, friendly. Ambience is cool, busy, outdoor seating available. I recommend trying the place out! Nice casual spot read more

Biked there last night with a friend and locked up the bikes out front (super convenient!). We ordered two cocktails (a corpse reviver and "improved negroni") as well as the wood fired scallops and the Sir Francis pizza. The corpse reviver was perfect, the negroni was a lil heavy on fernet. The food, drinks, environment, and service were all excellent. I grew up on the coast of NH and have eaten scallops all my life, but these were definitely among the best I've had. The pizza wasn't greasy, had complex and interesting flavors, and the crust was so much more than just a conveyor of toppings. The amount of care and attention to detail put into curating the interior space is evident in everything down to the killer hostess booth and even the water glasses (they're the most perfect glassware) While there, I noticed some people coming in and picking up food to go. I see that happening in my future. Cheers! read more

Pearl's - The neon sign in the window casts a hot coral glow on everything. - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Come here for the pizza, but the apps and bev menu aren't to be overlooked. Space, food, and service can be summed up in a single word: "thoughtful". I'm also a huge fan of Robert Beatty's and geeked a bit over the menus. Setting up the scene: visit was on a warm Friday night in July with a 7 PM dinner reservation - parties were just starting to trickle in. Started with refreshing Bitter Greens salad and Wood Fired Tinned Sardines before tucking into the Space Lady pie. The sardines are a DIY assembly-required, fun-to-eat plate that keeps you occupied and tides you over until pie time. You get about 4-5 crostini out of the tin. Our pie arrived and I was happy to see gentle treatments (drizzle of OO, lemon, herbs) that let earthy fragrant 'shrooms shine. Ugh, really what's not to love here? The wine list was well-curated and I was excited to see biodynamic 'living' wine - picked seasonally-appropriate Meinklang sparkling rosé, yum! A peek at their Instagram @pearlspizzapie suggests the list rotates so we'll be back to try more off the bev menu. read more

Pearl's - Menus - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I went to Pearls for the first time last night and have to say it has taken my number #1 place for pizza in Lexington! To start off, the atmosphere is very cozy as the restaurant is pretty small and tables are also close together. This made the experience feel more intimate, along with the servers being very polite and attentive. We started off with the buffalo cauliflower wings, which weren't like wings at all, but tasted delicious. However, if you are sensitive to heat, I would skip these because they were pretty hot! The pizza we ordered was the "Hellbabe", which includes fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, red onion, pepperonchini, and hot honey. I was weary that this would have my mouth on fire because of the heat on the cauliflower and the name, but I was proven wrong! Their pizzas are wood fired which is my favorite style because of the smokiness and crunchiness of the crust. All of the flavors paired perfectly together and I loved every bite. I'd say one pizza is perfect for two to share, as my boyfriend and I had two slices leftover, but could've finished it the two of us. They automatically add a 20% tip to your bill, which they made us aware of prior to bringing our check. I can't wait to come back and try more items! read more

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I was blown away by my bagel! I got the veggie on a plain bagel with scallion cream cheese and it was incredible. I love other local bagel places and this was above and beyond the rest. Definitely recommend! read more

Good service, very cold in the restaurant. Caesar was good, but croutons do contain seeds and don't list on menu in case of allergy. Always a Sauvignon Blanc drinker, and it is the *worst* I've ever had- super sweet and more like a moscato, do NOT order if you don't LOVE sweet wine. Hellbabe pizza with Serrano peppers instead of pepperoncini- great with the hot honey. 8 small-ish slices per pizza. Not the best pizza I've ever had, but still good. Light sauce, if you like sauce ask for extra. Vibes of the place are cool, would be good for a first date because it's somewhat loud. read more

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If it wasn't for the bad service I would have given them four stars because the pizza was really good but to add maybe two sliced mushrooms to my pizza they charged me $4. There was probably one mushroom slice on each piece of pizza. They asked me if I wanted bacon on my wedge salad. Because it was a vegan type restaurant. I understand them asking. Bet they charged me for bacon to go on a wedge salad. Doesn't a wedge salad always have bacon?? Every restaurant I've ever had one at it had bacon. This place is teeny tiny and I sit straight across from the bar where the girl hung out talking to the bartender so I had to wave at her to get her attention. When my tea was empty I had to wait forever to get her attention. I explained I was traveling and I needed to get back on the road so needed my bill once my food was brought up. She went in the bathroom and was in there forever and I had to have the bartender put my pizza in a box and ring up my bill. The next problem is they add a 20% charge to everyone's bill where there is a large party or a person of one and then they have a place for additional tip. When I get s***** service I only give 10%. When I get excellent service I give 25% . Now if you have time to waste and don't care about the service, the food is very good read more

Great spot in Lexington! I go every time I'm in town for bagels or pizza. Great for carry out too.

Great food, great service, but the host was incredibly rude. We made a reservation and were a few minutes late; we called to let them know and we were told it was fine but they would need us to eat quickly. Fine, okay, but a bit weird to be told that so abruptly over the phone for being 5 minutes late to a reservation. Over the course of our hour long dinner the host noticeably walked over, stopped in front of our table, and stared at us. This happened no less than 5 times. It just happened again as I was writing this, and a plate was taken from in front of my friend who was actively eating. It was incredibly uncomfortable and made the entire meal weird. It's to be noted that no one was waiting for a table as these staring competitions happened. Would consider returning if they gave more buffer time between reservations. read more

This place is delightful. The inside is a bit small but it's well organized, very cute, and takeout is easy if there's no space available. They do add 20% gratuity to each ticket, so just be aware. The kale salad is amazing and pizza is delicious. Also highly recommend trying the bagels for breakfast/brunch (order at counter for this). We've been very impressed with Pearl's. read more

this weekend i joined some friends at a burger place on the same block as pearl's. as a vegetarian, the burger joint didn't have many options for me so i ran down the street to pearl's to get a pizza. i was told to come back in 20 minutes, so i set a timer on my phone. well i guess my pizza was done early... so they walked it down to the block to me! truly the definition of going above and beyond. i couldn't believe they remembered where i was and delivered to me so i could eat my pizza while it was hot!! i've been a pearl's patron for years and will remain a loyal customer for years to come. my pizza was incredible per usual. love their bagels, too!! a great restaurant with even better staff :) read more

Pearls is a must go in lexington! The atmosphere is small, intimate, and hip! i am vegan, and the vegan buffalo cauliflower and the vegan margarita pizza! 10/10!!!!! read more

Currently my fav pizza in the Lex. It's so flipping cute in there... cute tables, teeny tiny,,, all white decor, except for the neon pink Pearl sign. I'm gonna call it precious chic! But for those who don't care about how cute a place is (Neanderthals!) it's still my fav because the pizza is so good. If Dominoes is your fav pizza, walk away though. The pizza is thin crust and in one size (serves two) but the toppings are killer. I love the Hot Babe (duh) it has salami, really spicy hot sauce and honey on it! I love hot and sweet! It's like the Thai food of pizza. Also, I like the farmer pizza (it has a cuter name, I just can't think of it) it has spicy greens and creamy cheese and woody mushrooms. Yum! I also like the broccoli salad and the oysters. (Obviously not your typical pizza place) btw I wouldn't call this an Italian restaurant. The owners also own a bar around the corner on Church Street, so you can hang there if you need to wait for a table. It's a small place so you might have to. This is not a place that you wanna go with giant people who wanna fill up on thick Pizza Hut pizza. Nope. This is a small restaurant with small delicious dishes of pizza. read more

What a gem. I ended up here quite by accident. Everywhere I called was jam packed on a Thursday night after Keeneland and Pearl's said they could take our party of 6. We got lucky! Service was fantastic and the aperol spritz did not disappoint but on to the stars: The food! Oysters - fresh and delicious. Served with a kimchi Tabasco mignonette sauce. Could have drank it. Roasted cauliflower - roasted to brown perfection, tossed in soy sauce. One of our favorites. Olives - light and loved the thin strips of fennel Sardines in a can - unique and tasty. Highly recommend if you like sardines (obviously) Pizza - we had several pizzas. All were delicious. The crust is chewy with great flavor. I never eat crust and I did not leave a crumb. Go with what looks good to you but that soppressata is to die for. Spicy heaven. Tight quarters so call for a reservation or have a drink and meander to a sidewalk table. So happy to see a spot like this in downtown Lex. read more

My friend and I had a great meal at Pearl's last night. The restaurant is beautiful: modern, bright, clean. It's teeny tiny, so a reservation wouldn't hurt (we were able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 7pm on Friday night - reservations can be made by phone). The service was great. And everything we ate was tasty! I started with the vegan Caesar (greens, Sunrise sourdough croutons, red onion, nutritional yeast, and Caesar dressing), which was lovely and light. (Note: a lot of people hear nutritional yeast - called nooch for short and that's how it appears on the menu - and get kind of freaked out. But I kind of love it? It's has a nutty, cheesy umami flavor that I'm actually a big fan of!) We also got the wood-fired pita with is served with olive and za'atar. The pita was the loveliest texture. And I happen to love za'atar (a Middle Eastern spice blend), and there was a lot of it in the olive oil. I also got the wood-fired tinned sardines (served with lemon, chile flakes, red onion, and sourdough toast), which was good. My friend got the Hellbabe pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, salami picante, red onion, pepperoncini, Parmesan, and hot honey). This isn't a combination I'd normally gravitate towards (I often prefer white pizzas with simpler ingredients), but even I thought this pizza was very good. That pizza crust is exactly what I want in a pizza. I got a glass of natural red wine; the wine list was very interesting, and the wine was very good. My friend had one of their cocktails, which she enjoyed. Based on this experience, I'd run back to Pearl's for dinner again soon if I lived in Lexington. A great meal overall. read more

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My wife and both ordered a bagel sandwich with egg, bacon, and cheese. It took 40 minutes for it to come out. It wasn't worth the wait. The flavor was lacking, and it was too dry. Staff were not attentive nor apologetic when I complained of the wait. read more

Kind of a confusing place if you've never visited Pearl's before. The space is petite, and you have to walk through very close quarters (when it's full) to get to the back where you order. Our first time there was noon on a Sunday. We were told it was a great pizza spot, and we went there specifically for the pizza. Unfortunately, Sundays at noon is their Bagel Menu. No one has ever recommended Pearl's to us for anything other than pizza, so we had no idea they even did bagels. And since we were craving pizza, we left. No biggie; we came back about a week later during a Pizza Menu time. Again with walking through a full restaurant to get to the ordering counter. We tell them we want to sit outside, awesome; they scan my card and we get a number. All good. We start with a glass of red each (disappointing considering the cost per glass), then Marinated Anchovies (highly recommend!) and finally a margherita-style pizza they call the Old No. 1 (very tasty, quality dough). We had to flag a waitress to close out. She comes back after a few minutes and says we're closed out and walks away. I did read signs that they will automatically charge a 20% gratuity to each order - I accepted that (even if I feel it's a bit pushy for a party of 2). I take issue with not being given or asked whether I wanted a receipt. It was unnerving, and I obsessed over watching my bank app to make sure the right amount was taken out based on what I calculated costs to be. I shouldn't have to do that. BTW - I'm ok if you want to email or text a receipt to save the whales or whatever, but to not be asked/informed...it's off-putting. read more

Pearl's - Marinated Anchovies (highly recommend!) - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Tasty caesar and sardines. The pizza wasn't anything special. The atmosphere was wonderful and lively. Took them a while to get a server to us but he was wonderful once he saw we were there. We will be back! read more

9.4/10 - The pizza is G R E A T and do not plan on splitting one with someone, get your own. It's good leftover the next morning. Once again, I was enjoying the pizza way too much to take photos of it but I have kind of cool photos of the mirror when you walk in? It's a little small joint, so not the best for parties bigger than 4. read more

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This is such a gem in Lexington! We loved the wood fired sardines, raw oysters, and mushroom pizza (blanking on the name!). The raw oysters were some of the best I've ever had, and the kimchi mignonette and homemade hot sauce were perfect additions. My only wish was they had some kind of cake/pie/pastry type dessert--we went for my birthday and there was nothing we could easily stick a candle in (just pudding or ice cream)! Also, the a/c can be chilly, so bring a jacket :) read more

Pearl's - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Our favorite pizza place in Lexington! Get the wood fired tinned sardines and the hellbabe pizza. I could put hot honey on everything. read more

Pearl's - Hellbabe - Pizza Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This is a great addition to Limestone. The pizzas, while not the best in the world, are very tasty with a good crust. I have tried four and I like the Old No 1 and Spaceman the best so far. Europe '72 was just okay and so was Big Bertha, but one of the toppings (I think the brisket) was super salty. An item that really surprised me was the woodfired tinned sardines. Honestly, I don't think I had ever had sardines. These were DELICIOUS. Especially when topped with the salt and lemon provided. I could have eaten the entire thing myself and was only a tiny bit bitter I had to share. Service is quick and friendly and they did a great job on lightening up the decor. A solid lunch or dinner spot. read more

We have had the pizza and the bagels at Pearl's and they are both incredible. Definitely one of my favorite places in Lexington. I am vegan and my husband isn't. We both love this place equally. read more