PieTana — Restaurant in Lexington

Today their rating was actually ZERO. I tried calling for 40 minutes; the line was continuously busy. Finally I tried going to their website to do an online order. There was no option for me to finalize the order with the stipulation that I would pay in cash. (I avoid using credit cards with locally-owned businesses, because of the hefty fees charged -- to the business owners-- by the credit card companies.) I ALWAYS pay cash.

The site said the order would be available for pickup at 7:00. I arrived about 5 minutes early and stood out in the cold (side pickup window) until an employee finally responded to the bell that I rang. He informed that that my order "had not been received." I informed him that they had just lost me as a customer.

I ended up at home with a (hassle-free) frozen pizza from Kroger. Will I ever buy a pizza from PieTana again? Right now my answer would be "NO WAY." Unless I hear something from them that will help me change my mind...

More: the blasé young man who came to the window 1) offered no apology; 2) offered no help in understanding your website (I had told him it was my first time trying to use the site), 3) did not offer to take my order and expedite it; 4) did not invite me to come in out of the cold while I waited. (Your website says that orders must be picked up.at the side window, where the customer has to stand outdoors. It was about 42° this evening, and breezy.)

By the standards I grew up with (1960's & 1970's), he was very rude. He was obviously more interested in taking care of himself than in me. In my day, some assistance would have been offered to let the customer know that you appreciate our business. What I received from your business today wasn't hospitality by anyone's definition.

He treated me as if he just wanted me to go away, so he didn't have to spend any time talking to me. (Having your phone off the hook for 40 minutes is another matter.)

I think both your website AND the attitudes of your employees need some...

Over the past weekend, Fat Man Reviews ventured out to PieTana in Lexington, KY. PieTana is a pizza shop that cooks with a wood-fired oven, This is the home of the Lexington style crust, they use West 6th Amber Ale in their pizza crusts.

We started with the Pizza Bones with Cheese. The bones are their bread sticks with cheese, they are served with fresh marinara and house made garlic cream sauce. The dough was cooked to perfection and the cheese was melted to a golden brown. There was a good chew and a buttery flavor to this dish. The marinara was slightly chunky and had a great tomato flavor. The cream sauce had a hint of sweetness, but it was more cream than garlic. A Fat Man pro-tip, mix the sauces.

We also tried their Signature Wings. They are spritzed with fresh lemon juice, coated with Parmesan cheese and bourbon smoked paprika then topped with chimichurri and served with bleu cheese. The wings were juicy and cooked perfectly, the lemon juice and the chimi was wonderful. The bleu cheese was chunky and great. The Parmesan cheese was a bit burnt and that flavor came through some. But make no mistake, these are excellent wings.

We also tried the Vinnie pizza. This comes with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Blue Door smoked brisket, bacon pepperoni, red onion and Marksbury Farm Italian sausage. The crust is amazing and unique, the amber ale adds a new level to the flavor. The pizza was pretty good all around, however the sausage and brisket were cooked before and when reheating it makes them a little tough and extra greasy, in my opinion. The pepperoni was great, and the bacon was chopped thick.

PieTana is a very small joint, but they do have a patio that is open in the warmer months. They serve draft and bottled beer, and they have a full bar. The menu offers salads, appetizers, signature pies that are all named after the Nealey family and a build your own option. The Fat Man says that PieTana is Fat...

Food is consistently phenomenal. The wings and Brussels n Taters are my absolute favorite and that’s not even getting into the pizzas yet. Becky B and Jexica will always be my go to’s! Good oven roasted pizza! Their Chimichuri is top tier. Servers are always kind and attentive.

My only complaint is the bartenders service. I would come more often if he wasn’t working. Don’t get me wrong, he is polite but that simply doesn’t suffice when the service is always faulty. Every time I come my water sits empty and I’m lucky if it’s refilled. He doesn’t know basic, dive bar style cocktails. Rather than prioritizing his guest, he sits on his phone. I don’t think he has much of a work ethic or pride at least not enough l to simply give me lemon the last 5-6 times I’ve been and asked for a water with lemon. I constantly feel like I’m a burden to be sitting at his bar ordering food and drinks and tipping (20-30%) to him. At first I was patient and graceful thinking it was a fluke or he was having a bad day but it gets to the point where I would rather not come if he is there, despite the good food.

I’m always one to support local and Pietanas food is impeccable but it’s gets to a point where the service overrides the food in a negative way. I want to keep coming back but will only do so if I’m sitting at a table (which is hard in such a small hole on the wall) or if he isn’t bartending. (I’m not even sure who “he” is because not once has he ever introduced himself)

Mind you he is laughing about talking oxy’s and shrooms while there are a bunch of children...