READ MORE
Lexington dining guides
LexGoEat.com is here to help with a number of guides of Lexington restaurants from family meals to Italian to Mexican.
Expand All
When it comes to ethnic cuisine, Americans just can’t get enough of Italian. All that luscious pasta, Parmesan and panna cotta – what could taste better when you are sheltering in place?
Still, even the most passionate Italian food lover gets tired of eating it out of a supermarket box.
So, here are a few local restaurants in Lexington that are still open for curbside pick-up and delivery where you can satisfy your craving for all things Italian.
Please note that this list doesn’t include pizza places, which will be covered in another article. In addition, some of our favorite Italian restaurants (Portofino, Sutton’s, Joe Bologna) are temporarily closed during the dine-in shut down from the coronavirus pandemic.
For more options, on LexGoEat.com check out our takeout dining guide featuring more than 190 Lexington restaurants and our family meals takeout guide.
Bella Notte
Bella Notte translates in English to “beautiful night,” and it can really be one when you order this local favorite’s Family Dinner for four. Priced at $29.99, the dinner offers a choice of four pastas (fettucine alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, penne chicken gorgonzola and rigatoni Romano); a shareable Caesar salad and panacotta and comes with bread, herbs and oil. They even include extra sauce to help reheat your noodles when you get home.
A bruschetta appetizer from Bella Notte. Photo provided
Available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call or place your order online and they will text you when it’s ready, or you can have it delivered. The restaurant was ready to roll out its spring menu when the pandemic hit and they had to cancel it. However, restaurant sources say to expect a limited version soon.
Pasta Garage Italian Café
Pasta Garage Italian Cafe is known for its house-made pasta dishes, and the good news is that the restaurant is serving its full menu daily from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with both curbside pickup and delivery, with online ordering.
In addition to fully prepared meals, the restaurant is offering a “Take and Bake” option where pasta lovers can order not only their favorite pasta but sauces and herbs to create their own dish. Prices range from $5 to $14.
Paisano’s Italian Restaurant & Lounge
Paisano’s offers the complete package from antipasti to dolci – that’s antipasto to sweets, in case your Italian is rusty. In addition to a variety of pastas, they have traditional dishes such as chicken cacciatore, shrimp alfredo, veal marsala and clams with linguini, all served with zucchini and fried potatoes.
Paisano’s doesn’t forget vegetarians either, with such dishes as eggplant parmesan, pasta primavera and vegetable lasagna.
Now, for the dolci. Order the cannoli with homemade ice cream or tiramisu. Even sweeter is a current deal – a bottle of house wine, normally priced at $24 is now half price.
Orders are available for both pick-up and delivery beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday (last delivery order taken at 9:30 p.m.) Call or order online.
Giuseppe’s Ristorante
Guiseppe’s is consistently voted Lexington’s favorite Italian restaurant, and even during these less-than-normal times it is thinking outside the box. Since the restaurant in a secluded nook off Nicholasville Road used to be a liquor store, it had a drive-thru window which hasn’t been used – until now.
You won’t even have to leave your car – just place your order and drive through. As an extra incentive, on Friday and Saturday nights don’t fret if the line is longer than usual as jazz musician Dave Hall entertains while you wait (5 to 7 p.m.)
Jazz musician Dave Hall entertains drivers while they wait in the drive-thru window to pick up their orders from Giuseppe’s Ristorante from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Photo provided
Of course, Giuseppe’s thinks inside the box as well, including the box that holds their family meal. Priced at $60, it feeds between four and five people and comes with a choice of entrees (tortellini alla penne pesto, spaghetti and meatballs and fettucine alfredo – without meat for vegetarians), salad and garlic bread.
Solo diners can still order from the full menu between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. nightly. You should also check their Facebook page for the deal of the day. Call to order.
Puccini’s
Puccini’s has three locations in Lexington and they all have carryout, delivery and curbside pickup available. Sure, they have pizza but they also have a menu of Italian favorites and salads available. Puccini’s also is offering family meals on its catering menu.
The restaurants are serving carryout 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call to order.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
Related Stories from Lexington Herald Leader
Dining and Cooking