New Lexington restaurant in old Mellow Mushroom location to have two kinds of pizza

A UK campus-area pizza restaurant that closed down last fall is finally coming back to life. But it’s a whole different pie.

Damiano, a new pizza and pasta place, is opening in the former Mellow Mushroom location on South Upper near the University of Kentucky campus in mid-September.

Restaurant owner Carlo Vaccarezza said the building has had a total renovation inside, so don’t go in expecting to see a big tree any more.

But there will be plenty of TVs: Vaccarezza said that Damiano plans to have UK games on whenever possible.

The menu will be different too: Damiano has two different kinds of pizza ovens, he said. One can make big pies and another wood-fired oven perfect for individual pizzas.

And in addition to pizza, Damiano will have plenty of pasta dishes, including some based on those served at his other popular Lexington restaurant, Frank & Dino’s on Short Street. Vaccarezza also owns upscale French restaurant La Folie on Woodland, which recently reopened after renovations from a burst pipe and now has a new bistro menu.

Pasta dishes at Damiano such as Mama’s Lasagna, ravioli and more will be less expensive but no less tasty, Vaccarezza said.

“It’s going to be a different price point but we’re not going back from the quality,” he said. Dine in and carryout will be available.

“Between the students and the staff, we’ll have about 60,000 people right there, and two or three hospitals,” Vaccarezza said. “So I think the location is great, we’re right across from Target and The Hub.”

He said they also will have a full bar and plenty of beer on tap.

“We’re going to try to make it fun and hope it works,” he said.

Damiano

Where: 503 S. Upper St.

Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m. to late night.