What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Dough Loco Lincoln
Review
About
Travellers' Choice
2024
Lincoln’s premier pizzeria situated in the city’s historical cathedral quarter.
Features
CUISINES
Italian, Pizza, Contemporary, Neapolitan, Campania, Southern-Italian
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Delivery
Full Bar
Gift Cards Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Order delivery
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed today
Sunday
12:00 - 18:00
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
17:00 - 21:00
Thursday
17:00 - 21:00
Friday
16:00 - 22:00
Saturday
12:00 - 22:00
Contribute
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4.9
676 reviews
Excellent
638
Very good
23
Average
6
Poor
8
Terrible
3
Dan H
6 contributions
Sept 2023 • family
Visited on a Saturday night as a group of 4 celebrating a birthday. A couple of tables were empty but there was also a couple of large groups in, so maybe they had capped numbers because of this? Either way the atmosphere was still great. Love the decor, love the music and the vibe is fairly unmatched in Lincoln I would say.
Onto the food, and the reason we came in the first place, the pizza. It has to be said this is some of the best pizza I've eaten. I've been to Italy, I've had pizza all over the world and I put pizza up there with all my favourite foods easily. This pizza is excellent. We all ordered a different pizza, I tried them all and genuinely feel I could have eaten any of them happily. Hunter, Honey, Hippie and the Weirdough. All fresh, quality ingredients, hot from the oven and with a perfect crust. Most of the pizzas are around £15 and if you can appreciate a quality pizza then this is worth every penny.
In regards to the not so good, I don't believe it's fair to call these cons or negatives because to be honest we still had a fantastic time. However:
There is a door to the courtyard left wide open. On a warm evening I can see the benefit of this as it lets some fresh air in. The problem is when people are smoking outside, it blows into the restaurant making the air not so fresh. It wasn't unbearable but it's never nice having to smell someone's cigarette when you're eating a nice meal.
Service was mostly good, however after finishing our main meals we felt a little forgotten about. It took a long time for our plates to be cleared away. Not a problem if you're out for a leisurely evening, but we'd also finished our drinks and were ready to order some more, alongside puddings. Again not the end of the world, but it's never nice feeling like you've been forgotten about.
Lastly as others have mentioned, the service charge. The restaurant adds 10% to the bill for service and the wait staff advise "you can remove if you like". I find this approach somewhat confrontational and as previous reviews have said, some people may feel a little pressured into paying this when otherwise they might not have wanted to tip 10%, or not tip at all. It's just an uncomfortable practice and I think it could spoil the end of the experience for some people. For the record our party left ours on, but we could see how it might irk some people.
Would I go back to Dough Loco? For a special occasion or when I'm really craving a delicious, quality pizza, yes. Overall it's top marks for me, with a couple of caveats. I would recommend anyone tries it at least once to make their own mind up.
Written 2 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manicrose
Bourne1530 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
Lovely little family run restaurant. Good range of pizzas on the menu including plenty for vegetarians and vegans. Makes a refreshing change to be spoilt for choice like this. I had the veggie warrior which was good. We both had the build your own waffle for dessert. Good range of toppings and sauces to chose from.
They automatically add on a service charge to the bill and explain it when they bring the bill over. They do give you the option to remove it but I expect that like us most people feel too awkward to ask for it to be removed. More and more places are adding on a service charge automatically bumping up the price of the meal even more.
Would definitely come here again in Lincoln but wouldn’t make a journey to Lincoln just to eat here.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy I
Doncaster16 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
Lovely service excellent pizza loved the option of a flatter thinner version and the ingredients were great quality. We will definitely come back - if anything they were a little over generous on the cheese for me (but not so my wife) - and it didn’t spoil a superb pizza I would just ask for a little less personally next time. I ate every piece obviously to make sure … the wine was also really good and the rocket salad was lovely. Overall a great dining experience - quirky surroundings in the shadow of the castle wall. We travelled from South Yorkshire and will return soon. Thanks !
Written 25 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt Barnes
Thank you for leaving a lovely review. We’re really happy you enjoyed your trip. We hope to see you again soon!
Written 1 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ruthless
79 contributions
Mar 2025 • family
We enjoyed our experience at Dough Loco. There is a good range of pizzas available at reasonable prices and some interesting sounding sides (we didn't try these). Despite being busy we didn't have a long wait for them to arrive after ordering. However one of the pizzas came on the wrong base (we didn't bother to quibble as we just wanted to eat). Service was a bit hit and miss, as it took a while for our pudding order to be taken and to be able to pay the final bill.
Written 16 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoeBloggz88
Northamptonshire17 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
My wife and I had a table booked for 18:15, drinks came quickly and friendly service. We ordered a starter to share, this came out quickly… then there seemed to be a drop in service.
There seemed to be a many, many Deliveroo drivers come and go as we waited 45mins between our starter and pizzas.
We eventually had to ask if our pizza order had gone through.
Pizzas were nice. Great food. But after the long wait, I pretty much took my last bite and went up for the bill as the wait time had chewed into our plans for the rest of the evening.
Written 10 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paige T
2 contributions
Dec 2024 • friends
A group of 21 visited for our work Christmas meal and we had a brilliant time. The staff were extremely accommodating, the food was delicious and freshly made, and amazingly all the pizzas were pretty much ready at the same time, hot and tasty - all 21 of them! Brilliant little venue by the castle - well worth the visit ☺️
Written 8 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah P
Lincoln14 contributions
Mar 2025 • couples
The menu choice here is exceptional. The names of the pizzas are imaginative and entertaining. We had loaded fries as a starter, pizza (of course) and shared the chocolate brownie, all of which were delicious. We were there celebrating a birthday and Dough Loco kindly brought out the dessert with the candles I had brought with us. They were brilliant and I thank them for a lovely evening. We will defo go back again.
Written 19 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George C
Lincoln23 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
We went to Dough Loco short notice, I accidentally booked for 2 but meant to be 3. They accommodated us no problem. The food was very good, pizza's and desserts. I just noticed on the menu that they did a Wednesday deal of bundling certain pizzas with a drink for a discounted cost. When the bill arrived they had not given us the deal on the 1 pizza that was in the deal. When I questioned the server she said she would put it on if I wanted???? This took the edge off a good meal. Service was good and 10% is put on the bill (discretionary). Having to ask for a discount on their menu is sneaky. Not sure I will be back.
Written 12 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dominic O
3 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
Phenomenal pizza, some of the best I've had in the uk or abroad- friendly staff with obvious passion and knowledge, and pizza that is obviously made with love. How big chains exist selling pizza when places like this are about is beyond me! The service was excellent, and in the location it is in the price was very reasonable as well- no faults! We are from Nottingham where we are very spoiled for numerous excellent pizza places, and Dough Loco would absolutely hold its own in Notts city centre
Written 30 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meander06311318954
2 contributions
Feb 2025 • family
Excellent pizza with generous toppings.
Very friendly staff who even helped our granddaughters with their pizza artwork and put it up on display.
The place was buzzing with a great and welcoming atmosphere.
We highly recommend it and will definitely go again.
Written 1 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt Barnes
Hi hi! Thank you so much for leaving us a review. So happy you all had a nice time with us. The art is looking great on our wall. Hope to see you again soon ❤️👍
Written 2 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
T W
5 contributions
Oct 2024 • family
Turned up by chance with my son on a Saturday evening, and despite the restaurant being full the staff moved things around and found us a perfect little spot on the bar.
Really friendly staff, amazing pizza and brilliant ambience but what topped it all off is that they supplied Pizza Scissors - the best item of cutlery anyone has ever invented. Any pizza restaurant that doesn’t supply these needs to reconsider it’s chosen cuisine - a real revelation.
I ordered the Rocky Balboaand it was perfectly cooked, and up there with the best pizza I’ve ever experienced.
Fantastic. If you’re in Lincoln I highly recommend checking out this hidden gem by the Cathedral.
Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avon49
Lincoln42 contributions
Dec 2022 • family
Reserving a table was easy online and ordered a gluten free pizza base at the same time. Confirmation came through quickly. The restaurant staff were extremely friendly, especially Immy who served us. The atmosphere within the restaurant was nice and service was quick. We ordered a normal and a gluten free pizza. Both were really good. The gluten free one was the best pizza I'd tasted in a long while. Lovely to have Gf cheesecake on the menu too as well as chocolate brownie. Service charge was added automatically however, we were told we could have it removed if we wished to. Why would we do that, the service and food was amazing! Highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely be returning.
Written 19 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maz6423
192 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
I booked a table, which I would definitely recommend doing as they were very busy when we went and walk ins were being turned away (on a Wednesday evening).
The venue is modern in style and probably aimed at the Student market, I did love the glitter ball, although our small table for 2 and basics wooden chairs gave more of a communal dining style rather than somewhere for a special occasion.
Onto the Pizza, because this is all they do, don't go expecting lasagne, spagetti bolognese or any form of pasta. On the plus side they do, do gluten free and vegetarian pizzas and you do have a choice of tomato or BBQ for your base and perhaps I have been spoiled living in an area with a good selection of proper Italian Pizzerias, but I have to say the pizza I had was only average and that's me being kind. My local takeaway service is better. The waitress was super busy and rushed off her feet and forgot our dips (easily done) and I struggle to understand how this place is excellent value for money when it cost £24 for a standard bottle of red wine (the wine prices where not shown on the menu by the way so ask before you order). The service charge is automatically added to your bill, something the waitress did point out, but as I thought the service was ok I wasn't going to quibble about that. So perhaps I am being a miser to think a total bill of £60 for 2 pizzas, a bottle of wine and a cocktail is slightly expensive.
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt B
Hi hi,
Thank you for your review. I'm sorry you felt underwhelmed by our restaurant. I hope you're willing to give us another try! We have never billed ourselves as anything other than a pizza joint which is why we don't have any other main course options as per our menu via TripAdvisor. We're a grass roots establishment forged out of backgarden charity pizzas to raise money for the NHS during the first lockdown... we're only 5 months old as a restaurant, which is why our furniture might not be up to the usual restaurant standard as we didn't have the usual cspitol most restaurants start with. But we're getting there.. albeit slowly!
Our wines change regularly so we don't have them on the menu, they are visible on our triple wine boards on the wall though. The wine you chose was our special Malbec, not the house which is priced at £18.95. And yes, we're busy. And we're thankful for that. We never expected to be so popular but we're trying our best to keep up with demand and our staff team work tirelessly to accommodate everyone. Anyway, I thank you for your review and we hope to see you again soon.
Written 25 February 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Abby A
Dunfermline16 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
This is our first visit to Lincoln & after looking at a few reviews of Italian restaurants nearby, we decided to try Dough Loco. It most certainly didn't disappoint!
Set on the way up towards the cathedral, kind of 'off the beaten track' but easy to find with the ever trusty Google Maps!
First impressions were great, lovely twinkly walkway to the entrance, then into the most quirky wee place! Fab decor (including disco ball!) Great vibe & a good mix of table sizes. We hadn't booked so we were a bit worried, but they managed to fit us in.
Staff are friendly & efficient.
Menu was varied & prices good. Several 'deals' on offer too. Hubby plumped for the 2 courses & a drink menu. I went for just the pizza.
We didn't order a starter but I did spy a sharing platter, that passed on it's way to another table & it looked amazing!
Drinks came promptly & then the main event......our freshly made sourdough pizzas. Genuinely THE best pizza we have had, and hubby has had a few! Crust was just the right mix of 'light, airy but oh so crispy' & the flavours of the toppings were mouthwatering. We both had the Pep Talk & although spicy, wasn't blow your mouth of hot! We really liked the provision of Pizza Scissors, much more efficient than a pizza wheel or knife & fork.
We shared hubbys dessert, the Christmas special. This was warm brownies with a medley of crumbled extras...crunchie, kitkat etc, a generous dollop of thick cream & a drizzle of caramel sauce. Again delicious!
When the bill arrived it came with 2 glasses of Limoncello, I have to say this made my night! I LOVE when a restaurant does this! The total bill came to just over £40 for 2 pizzas, a beer, a coke zero & a dessert.
We HIGHLY recommend this Little Gem & also suggest a wander up to the cathedral after, especially if you visit at night.
Overall a very enjoyable evening & we will most definitely be back.
Massive thank you Dough Loco 🍕
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt B
Thank you so much for visiting us and THANK YOU for the gorgeous review :)
Written 7 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laura R
Lincoln1 contribution
Apr 2024 • business
Excellent service, fantastic food!
From first contacting the Dough LoCo team, they were positive and very accommodating.
I booked a table for 26 people and with great communication from Matt and clear instruction of what they needed and when, the booking went perfectly.
The choice of pizzas available meant that everyone was happy. The food was delicious and all 26 people were happy with their meals. Matt, the manager on the day, made sure that everything ran smoothly and was happy to accommodate how we wanted to pay the bill etc. The female server (Abbie or Poppy, so sorry I can’t quite remember) was excellent too.
Thanks Dough LoCo team, we’ll definitely be back!
Written 17 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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