L'imbuto

L’imbuto was a truly joyful experience. The wait staff were friendly and clearly having fun presenting the dishes as they got progressively more whimsical (I will not spoil some highlights with pictures). The food was inventive and amazing, particularly the amount of flavor packed into the various sauces. The wine list was extensive. And finally, I got to meet Cristiano Tomei himself, a man who I’ve watched for years on ItaliaSquisita videos. He was just as gregarious and fun in real life. One thing to note is that the restaurant recently relocated to about 10 minutes/3km outside of the city’s walls. It is very easy to find a taxi from Lucca to the restaurant, but not easy at all to find a taxi back. Pre-arrange a return ride.

What an experience. This lovely couple have created a food fantasy. From the moment you arrive your taste buds are driven around Italy. It is not a cheap restaurant, however I would argue it is great value. My wife and I went for our wedding anniversary and we felt it was such a special occasion.

This was such an amazing experience! The staff makes you feel so welcome and at ease, the location itself is fantastic (a calm, quiet garden away from the busy noise of Lucca city center). And the food... the dishes were fun, playful, surprising, and without exception delicious! The excellent wine pairing lifted the experience even more. If you get the chance to go here, you definitively should! You can feel (and taste) the love and passion the owner and chef, and the team, puts into this experience.

Such a nice location, right outside Lucca. It has a nice, quiet garden with just a few tables and Italian ambient music at a low, comfortable level. The personell is so nice, forth coming, professional and service minded. AND THE FOOD! The food is nothing short of amazing. It's a set menu where the chef makes up the dishes as he goes, and everything was so creative and a delight for the pallet. Keep an open mind! The wine selection to the meals was excellent. Easy 5 stars and a privilege to have experienced! Must be booked in advance.

Extraordinary taste journey. We are extremely demanding vegetarians, but this was a real discovery. Each course tantalized the taste buds. We looked forward to the next course and each one didn’t disappoint. My husband has severe food allergies and he was carefully catered to. Delicious, creative food and great service. An amazing experience. Highly recommended. I owned a restaurant myself and know what goes into what they’re doing. This restaurant deserves at least one star. Impeccable.

One of the most beautiful meals we have had. The combination of flavours and colours shows the chef's ingenious, playful, skilled, and generous approach to Italian cooking. The service was immaculate and warm. Its Michelin star is well deserved.

The tasting menu is delightful, the wine exquisite, the staff outstanding, the setting light, exciting and inspiring. A fantastic experience, my daughters and i are very grateful for. Thank you to the whole team for making something so special and affordable ! Highly recommended and clearly a different experience in lucca... 5 steps ABOVE the rest! And the fact that art defies math and 5 steps menu ends up being a 10 dish play (7 savory chapters, 3 sweet) is just the cherry on the cake!!!!! An OTT review for on OTT experience )

Some of the most genuine fun I had with a tasting menu, and the value you get for the 5 course + desserts is amazing! Our waitress was the best, so friendly and charismatic when speaking too us. The chef even came out to say goodbye to us, shook our hand, and was very appreciative of us dining in. Every dish got better, with my favorite being the beef tartare. Ambiance inside is so clean, welcoming, and chill and it fits the travel theme very well with a nice view of the Palazzo Pfanner.