Limestone

Had a very nice date night here. The Farmer’s pizza was delicious and we ended sharing dessert. This was our first visit and I think we’ll be back.

I’m super excited to review one of my favorite Lawrence restaurants, and I’m going to do it through the eyes of a gluten-​free yuppie.
Ambiance: They staff is very friendly, accommodating, and generally seem to enjoy their jobs. I always like to see this in waiters. Modern décor, but comfortable; not sterile. It’s well designed long dining room, clean bathrooms (always a good sign), and a variety of different ways in which to sit (booth, table, bar, pizza bar, outside). You can watch the bartenders and see them make the pizzas at the bar! Clientele is chatty and amicable.
The pizza here is to die for. I’ve only had the gluten-​free kind, and my fellow GF’ers know how hard it is to get good gluten-​free crust. It’s amazing. Thin crust made out of mostly buckwheat, I believe. Sometimes they run out, so if you’re driving a ways, call ahead and see if they have GF crusts left — they’ve set one aside for me before! I always finish an entire pizza here because it is delicious and I’m awesome at eating. Try the spud and whatever they have for the special — it’s usually local ingredients and great.
Aside from the pizza, the entrees are great, too. I love the steak frites (perfectly cooked how you ask and excellent quality meat) and the warm beet salad.
They have an excellent beer selection, and wine on tap (!!) What? The bartenders know what they’re doing and will adjust cocktails for you if you like something a certain way (i.e. not too sweet). Finally, there’s just so many options! You can eat snacks at the bar, or have a sit down meal at a table with a group of 10. Check it, yo.

They always have fresh ingredients and the food is consistently good. They have increased their prices recently, so it is a bit more expensive now. The pizza is to die for.

What a great find in Lawrence.
Food is amazing, this is not just an ordinary pizza joint.
Great selections of plates from local farmers,
Must try the chestnuts, and warm beet salad simple delicious.
The meatballs special was very well portioned for the price and tasteful.
The pizzas are all artisan in a wood burning oven.
Homemade pepperoni, Brussels sprouts with bacon.
If there is one place you must try in Lawrence that is Limestone pizza.

Limestone isn’t really a pizza place. I mean, it is, because they serve pizza. But it’s not a «pizza place» in the way that Minsky’s or Rudy’s are. It is so much more!
Limestone is more like a neighborhood restaurant that just happens to make some of the best food with the best local ingredients around, including pizza. Everything on the menu (I’ve tasted almost every single thing for lunch and dinner) is done to the highest standards with almost obsessive-​level attention to detail. And it is delicious!
Probably my two favorite categories of things at Limestone — besides the pizza, which obviously is the best in Lawrence far and away — are the salads/​vegetables and the cocktails. The vegetable sides change seasonally and there is often a vegetable special, as well. They are all very simply prepared so the veg flavor really comes through. It walks the line of good-​for-​you and delicious so perfectly. The Limestone salad is a regular choice for us. When the side salad is that good, you know you’re at a quality restaurant! I also love the warm beet salad. My absolute favorite is the roasted root vegetables. Perfection.
The cocktails also rotate seasonally, which I like, because I’m particular about what time of year I drink what. The house margarita (available anytime, btw) is margarita nirvana on a hot summer day. The mojito is minty and not too sweet. The Bee’s Knees and Halfway to Scarborough are good cold-​weather picker-​uppers. My husband loves the beer selection — they get things on tap and in cans/​bottles that other downtown places don’t have. Kids and teetotalers have two fantastic house-​made options: limeade and vanilla soda, yum!
The pizza is so very good. They don’t give you a choice of toppings, which at first drove me bananas (but that was back when I thought this was a «pizza place,» you see). Now that I’ve tried all of them, they are all just plain scrummy. Highlights for me are the margherita, sausage and the greens pizza — honorable mention goes to the salad pizza when it’s in season.
Go to Limestone, settle in, and let them bring you delicious food. I don’t know how you’ll be disappointed.

Limestone provides the best pizza in Lawrence at the present time, although I’ve heard that one of the best pizza restaurants in Kansas City is planning to open a restaurant in location. That should be interesting.
Limestone specializes in «neoprairie» pizza, leaning towards the Neapolitan style in Napoli (Naples) Italy, but emphasizing local Kansas sources for ingredients. For example, they make their own mozzarella cheese and do not use imported Italian flour for the crust. The resulting pizza is closer to pizza in Italy than in New York, Chicago, or St. Louis (groan), which have their own styles. Nevertheless, Limestone’s «neoprairie» pizza is in many ways different from pizza in Napoli.
For example, there are two certified historically «authentic» pizzas in Italy: Pizza Marguerita and Pizza Marinara. Limestone has the first but not the second. But considering the difference in the local ingredients, I doubt that the Pizza Marinara (being the most basic pizza without cheese and not using the «authentic» Italian tomatoes) would be popular in Lawrence.
Also in Napoli, it is customary for there to be a small table with «antipasto» options, serving as something like a salad bar. Limestone does not have that table, but most of those options are individually listed on the menu as small sides or additions.
That said, I really don’t have suggestions for improving on Limestone Pizza. Its version of «neoprairie» pizza is terrific. Also don’t bypass the other choices. For example, if you are not in the mood for pizza, the Spaghetti Squash Salad, made with locally grown squash, is simply wonderful.
Well, actually I do have a suggestion. Since Limestone is not 100% authentic Neapolitan, and since Limestone uses local sources, why not offer a whole grain crust?

When I walked into LiMESTONE today at 11am and we were the only table in the place while other restaurants were on a 20−40min wait, I was concerned. Then when the waitress refused to do ala carte bacon & a biscuit for my 10yo. I was annoyed. When the chef refused to scramble and egg for her (they only do sunny side up or over easy), I offered to pay for our coffees and we left. We went down the street to one of your competitors, waited 20mins and tipped over 20%. Thanks Ladybird Diner for being delicious and welcoming!!!

My friends and I tried the spud, the farmers, and a basket of fries! All absolutely delicious and perfect amount for three hungry people. I loved the egg on the farmers pizza my only complaint would be that I want more! My friends absolutely loved the spud pizza as the potatoes were cooked perfectly and the crème fraîche on top was just what the pizza needed. Very nice staff and fun place to people watch!

I was so excited when this restaurant opened, and I can honestly say the food and atmosphere are fantastic. If it wasn’t for the poor service I received, especially on my most recent visit, this review would easily be 5 stars.
I was meeting a couple friends for dinner and drinks whom I hadn’t seen in awhile. We waited for about 15 minutes to get a table (not bad at all since the space is small) and were given a table in the back. The food we received was fantastic, however, once we were finished eating the waitress was really trying to rush us to leave, stating that they needed the table for other guests. I don’t know about you, but when your table just spent well over $ 120 on three people and still have beer in your glasses, the last thing I want is a waitress telling me she needs the table for someone else. This instantly made us uncomfortable. So, we left, only to find out when we arrived at the front of the restaurant that there was no wait at all and there were several open tables.
This poor service left a sour taste in my mouth, and I haven’t been back. Such a shame because the food and atmosphere really are great.

This is my favorite pizza in Lawrence, and therefore the world. I cannot go and not get the mushroom pizza with plenty of sweet chili sauce on the side (thankfully, you can purchase this sauce to take home). My husband got the sausage pizza, which he said was really tasty.
The service is fast and polite, all you can ask for.
They use local ingredients wherever possible, which is a huge plus for me.
My only complaint (if you can call it that) is that there usually is no ice in the water carafe they provide for each table.
Highly recommend this place! You will not be disappointed.

Wood, metal, glass, contemporary. Yeah we get it, everywhere looks like this nowadays. Lots of seating and a decent sized bar with a really cool view of the pizza oven. Staff was very welcoming and friendly from when I first stepped in. They had a large menu of cocktails and unique drinks and multiple taps of craft beer and some local stuff. I ordered a beer from Blind Tiger just a hop, skip, and a jump west. For food I ordered The Spud.
Pizza was cooked perfectly. The crust was thinner than most neo pizzas I’ve had. Literally like a cracker. Which isn’t a bad thing. Layers of potato and crumbles of bacon on top drizzled in sour cream. Delicious. I could eat the whole thing, but just barely. I’d really like to come back and try more pizzas!

This place has some dang good pizza. I think it’s a little unconventional – they have some crazy specials («biscuits and gravy” – wHAT) but they always make it taste good.
I’ve gotten the margherita pizza and it’s great. It tastes really fresh and authentic. I’ve gotten seated near the windows every time so far but I’d love to sit near the chefs and watch them do their thing. The pizzas are enough for one person to eat. They take up a large plate, so if you’re with friends, consider getting two pizzas and/​or some of their sides.
The first time I ate there my pizza had a weird bitter zing in parts. I think it was the olive oil mixed with the blackened areas of the crust – my second and latest trip there didn’t have that. There’s nothing much that can be done about that, though – that’s how the pizza’s made!
This place is a tiny bit more upscale that a lot of other downtown restaurants in my opinion, so I like to keep it for special occasions. I’d like to see more of them!

Not sure what the deal is. We called 2 days before arriving and they said that our group should show up one hour before.
Just called now and they said they could mot accommodate our group. Epic fail.

Delicious wood-​fired pizza, excellent beer selection, and nice salad and veggie side selections. Really great service– out server handled our 10-​top like a pro and we all really enjoyed our food. This is a short and sweet review cuz I’m short on time but for the kind of joint this is– they are tops!!!

Why are you not at Limestone now! If you’re not hungry, step inside their place and your mouth will drool much like the GOP’s does when they have a chance to bomb a country or take a poor person’s last dollar.
The margarita, meatball and squash pies are tops… fresh cheese, great crust, great apps and some really cool beers on tap (they change)
I believe they still have a happy hour (I think 2−5PM) with 6 dollar pizza… best six bucks you’ll even spend…
Great place, great people and great pizza!
Do it… do it now… run to da choppa

I really enjoyed their bites menu. The pizza… eh…I’ve had better.
The bites are a nice way to make your own appetizer platter. You have choices of pickled items, cheeses, bacon, olives and all of these at different prices. We opted for bacon, baguette, chevre, stilton and pickles. The choices seemed all over the place but went well together. If you’re a blue cheese fan the stilton is slap your face aggressive. I am a huge pickle fan and these were really good.
We ordered the sausage pizza. It is house made sausage, mozzarella and sauce. Simple ingredients which should stand out; but didn’t. The sausage was ok and the sauce was tasteless. I’m glad we were given a bottle of sweet chili sauce to add. It kicked up the pizza. The crust wasn’t crisp and slightly burned in spots. I know some people aren’t fans of crispy pizza. But pizza shouldn’t be soggy.
Overall the atmosphere is nice, the service was really good and I enjoyed what bites we had. For these reasons, I am confident with 4 stars. I will definitely go back to make up another platter and/​or try a sandwich. The descriptions sound tasty. But, I’m not in a hurry to order another pizza.

I haven’t lived in Lawrence for a decade, and I’ve probably only been back a handful of times since I first moved away. My point? My ideas of Lawrence cuisine are pretty dated. If 48 hours ago somebody had asked me to name the best Lawrence pizza, I’d say Papa Keno’s or maybe Rudy’s — or if you’re drunk, Pyramid. Now, however, I’d say Limestone. And specifically, I’d shout out their Summer Pizza.
Let me tell you a little something. If you live in Lawrence and haven’t had this pizza, you’re not right in the head. With it’s bacon, tomato and roasted corn sauce, it had not only a fantastic flavor, but also texture. The crust is perfectly chewy, and they give you some sort of house-​made hot sauce to dash over it. Just ridiculously good.
The space is sparse and clean, tables in the front and the bar in the back. They have a good beer list, appetizing salads and sandwiches, and a great staff. The prices are reasonable. The Unilocalers that recommended this place to me were 100% correct. This place is great! Come visit.

Limestone is a new place selling pizza and sandwiches, as well as daily specials that range from street tacos to fish and chips depending on the day. Named for the behemoth oven surrounded by limestone in the open kitchen and the exposed limestone walls, the restaurant’s décor is casual and welcoming, just like the accessible menu and friendly staff.
I have only been in twice, but both times I had the pizza and was impressed. The crust is chewy, but still crunchy and the topics eclectic. I have sampled the Spud (with potatoes and crème fresh, the farmer with egg and bacon, and the rotating veggie pizza with broccoli greens). They are around 12 inches and range from $ 8 – 13. My dining companion got the pastrami sandwich and fries; it looked amazing and the pastrami is house-​made and, per my companion, very tender.
Make sure to get the house-​made pepper sauce for your pizza,; it is really delicious on the crust (or all over the pizza) depending on your tastes. They also make pickles in house and they are great.
They have a full bar with 6 beers and 3 wines on tap; yes, wine on tap. The beers are all craft and a represent a wide selection unlike some places that have fixated on IPAs) – I have able to enjoy a sour, a saison, and a rare IPA during my visits.
There can be a daunting wait for dinner during the weekend, but just give them them you name and wonder around the great stores on Mass Street – they will give you a call when your table is ready.

Limestone is a great addition to the downtown Lawrence restaurant scene. The restaurant opened recently in the former La Parrilla space on Massachusetts, but other than the front windows and the exposed rock wall, nothing is the same about the space. The whole interior was remodeled to take more advantage of the space within the storefront, adding more seating in the front and booths further back into the restaurant. The kitchen space was moved to the north wall and includes a bar with a nice tap selection and an open kitchen that has a large wood-​fire pizza oven (made of limestone, naturally).
In two visits, I’ve sampled a couple of pizzas as well as a sandwich. On our first visit, Mrs. R and I had the Spud and a the Farmer. The Spud features thinly-​sliced potato, rosemary, and crème fraiche. The farmer features bacon, spinach, and a sunny-​side-​up egg in the center. Both pizzas were very tasty and featured the chewy-​but-​crisp dough from the wood oven, but I give the advantage to the Farmer as I am a sucker for any dish that is embellished with a soft egg. We also enjoyed a couple of beers from the selection of taps.
In our second visit, Mrs. R had a special pizza (which escapes me right now) and I had the pastrami sandwich. The pastrami used in the sandwich is nice and tender, appearing more to be pulled from the brisket rather than sliced, but tender enough that I did not worry about needing to use a toothpick to get at a stubborn bit. The bread is actually sourced from Wheatfields and seemed to have a little butter & griddle treatment to give it a little extra crunch. The sandwich comes with fries, which are thin fried shoestrings. Very tasty, and you can really taste the fresh potatoes.
The tap and beer selection is nice — a selection of local brews and other craft brews on tap, and the menu shows a decent selection in bottles both as individual servings and bombers for sharing.

I’ve decided after my eight dine here (first two times they were so new they weren’t even listed in Unilocal) that they’d be getting another star from me, and why shouldn’t they? They’re getting the majority of my dining out business of late and I’m eagerly plowing through everything I can try on the menu.
But one thing rocking it for me is consistent service. You can look at a lot of reviews of downtown Lawrence dining I’ve written and you’ll find me on record as observing that solid professional host/​hostess and wait-​staff service in this college town is an Achilles heel for most restaurants (Free State Brewery and Wheatfield’s are exceptions). Special shout out to Sarah (hostess) and Hayden (waiter)… hope I spelled your names correctly.
The food here remains solid, exciting and always makes me happy, yet they’ve successfully avoided what I term the dreaded «stacked and tortured» food syndrome. I’ve yet to experience anything that wasn’t first-​rate. The menu items are basics, the ingredients are fresh, often local, and prepared with care. Simple items like the root vegetable side and the insane Hibiscus ice cream just make me happy.
Latest surprises: the wine on tap, particularly the Sicilians are wonderful and are served in a plain glass container which I find refreshing. The homemade sriracha sauce is another gem and I can’t resist taking little crusts of the pizza and filling the tiny holes with it for a savory, spicy last bite. The calamari is prepared fresh, not frozen, and absolutely melts in your mouth.
Need more proof they’re getting the attention of the casual dining crowd in Lawrence? I guarantee this is the only dining spot in town this past Monday evening where you had to wait 15 minutes for a table for two at 7:00 p.m.