LUCA

Italian restaurant · Lancaster

LUCA

Italian restaurant · Lancaster

2

436 W James St #101, Lancaster, PA 17603

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Highlights

Modern Italian with wood-fired pizzas, pasta & cocktails  

Featured in Eater
Featured in Food & Wine

436 W James St #101, Lancaster, PA 17603 Get directions

lucalancaster.com
@luca_lancaster

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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436 W James St #101, Lancaster, PA 17603 Get directions

+1 717 553 5770
lucalancaster.com
@luca_lancaster

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 14, 2025

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Taste Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Farm-to-Table Food Scene

"Luca was nominated for a James Beard Award for its menu of Italian classics made with Lancaster ingredients, like autumn vegetable fritto misto with squash and hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, and heritage pork slow-roasted in a wood-burning oven." - Regan Stephens

https://www.foodandwine.com/lancaster-pennsylvania-8716229
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@eater

10 Restaurants Worth the Drive From Philadelphia | Eater Philly

"Located in downtown Lancaster, Italian eatery Luca is a bustling hub for dining, drinking, and community. From collaborations with local farmers and brewers to cookbook dinners and amaro flights, Luca is the kind of restaurant that proves that there’s so much more to Lancaster County than Dutch Wonderland and Renninger’s Flea Market." - Caroline Coral

https://philly.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-driving-distance-philadelphia
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Rudylee Jyssica Goco

Google
Vibes here were immaculate. I’m so sorry I can’t quite remember the name of our server but he was one of the bartenders ! He was super sweet and kind and was very helpful in picking what we wanted to eat / was very excited about our selections for us. Upon sitting at the bar, you could tell that a lot of people came back as regulars because of him. This guy was super friendly (and had really awesome tattoos) and it showed in the way customers loved him too. Aside from the service and atmosphere, the food was delicious. Who knew cabbage and flatbread could taste the way it did?? The entrees we got were perfectly seasoned as well. We chose LUCA on a whim and honestly, great choice. If I’m ever back in Lancaster, I’d come back here FOR SURE

Dana Ormerod

Google
We have enjoyed dining at Luca since they opened several years ago. The food has been consistent and has always been a treat. Recently, I had the Bronzino which was outstanding. This was the best meal ever at Luca. The fish was excellent, the vegetables were fresh, and the sauce was amazing. Well done Luca!! Thank you for a fun evening.

Gabrielle B

Google
Was sent to Luca as a recommendation from a friend and I was not disappointed. This restaurant is chic as soon as you walk in, and the food matches the vibes. I came in as a solo diner and sat at the bar. Wine by the glass selection could be wider, but the cab blend was tasty. The stand out items for me were the gem lettuce salad with the focaccia croutons as well as the tiramisu. So delicious! The kitchen sent out arancini on the house, which I thought was very kind. I got the gnocchi and it was good but wish I tried the pizza. I watched it being made from the bar and it looked outstanding. Highly recommend this spot for a date night or even solo dinner, but better when you have a larger party so you can try a bunch of different items.

EpikOne

Google
I've been to Luca many times as well as their pizzeria, but this is just a rating on my last visit. IMPORTANT: If going on the weekend, have a reservation or BE PREPARED TO WAIT. I had a reservation two weeks in advance but there were many people who had to wait for long periods of time. The menu has been trimmed down since they have Luca Pizzeria elsewhere now, which was a great move because it allows focus on specialties they do really well. Our cocktails were an egg white foam + ginger + sugar honey flavored type drink (I dont believe is on the menu), and she had a more fruity cocktail. They were both delicious and sadly, I don't remember what they were called. But the pictures tell the story. My drink was stronger and the foam was very delicious! I ordered the beef tongue appetizer, which was slow roasted and basically like a brisket in texture. It's served with a smoked buttermilk sauce and winter greens that pair well. I was pleasantly surprised as it was my first ever tongue dish, and I would order again. My lovely girlfriend ordered the Foccacia, which was mainly fluffy sourdough type bread lightly drizzled in oil. She liked it, but I believe it would've been better paired with a little dish of oil or other topping. Our entrees were the Bolognese pasta, and I ordered the Luca Chciken. Her Bolognese was good, and the noodles tasted very delicious. The sauce and meat reminded me of Chef Boyardee flavor, but it was way healthier. It wasn't salty like other places, and the classic Ragu sauce was smooth tasting sauce, which was delicious, but personally, not great. I would try something else in the future. My chicken was good, but it was in a brine before it was cooked according to the description. However, it was much dryer than a chicken that I would brine at home, and this ruined some of the experience. The flavor itself was excellent, and it was paired with pickled red onions that paired well, and the broccolinj was in a delicious glaze. However, again, the chicken was too fry to get the full effect. I would not go as low as a 3, but I would say a 3.5 if allowed to give a half-star. My dessert was the salted butterscotch budino which was a thick custard type pudding with marscapone and caramel on top. This is delicious and you should share or try it. My lovely lady had Tiramisu. The texture, fluffy of layers, and cream were delicious. However the cocoa or chocolate was a little bitter. It wasn't overly sweet which I appreciate but may have paired better with a drink that goes with it. I thought it was good enough but my girlfriend believes she has had better. I'm not a coffee person and I appreciated it not being sweet, so I am not sure my opinion was valid. Customer service was great. We actually received a free little glass of prosecco while we waited as the server was in the way of our table. The environment is like a flower shop meets garage meets trendy bar. If you have never been, you should go. The Pizzeria is also great!

Nick Martin

Google
Really great food, drinks and service from our bartender. Makes for a great date night place. They have an upper seating area, maybe next time I'll be cool enough to get seated up there, but for now the bar will do.

Haochen Zhou

Google
One of my favorite spots in Lancaster. Picante pizza is always my go-to, but their pasta and seasonal dishes are also excellent. I never get tired of coming here.

Mike S

Google
One of the best restaurants we've been to in the past couple years. We came on a Thursday night and the place was just popping with spirited energy and a joyful atmosphere. The inside has several different areas to sit, all with their own vibe. The staff were super from the bartenders to the folks clearing the tables. We stayed at the bar and found the bartenders to be very friendly and engaging. The food was delicious and there was a wide assortment of drinks offerings. We will definitely be back here again when we visit Lancaster!

Laura Dickey

Google
Love this restaurant! Everything was delicious, top to bottom. The pasta was delicate and lovely. The focaccia was fantastic - can recommend the burrata. We tried a wide variety on the menu and found everything delicious. The interior is a pleasant space but can get quite noisy. The outside seating area is lovely and much quieter. This is a wonderful find in Lancaster!
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Wilma S.

Yelp
Food, service, ambiance were all amazing! Only tough part about dining there is the parking situation as it's primarily residential. Their gnocchi is the best!
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Steve S.

Yelp
My fiance and I have eaten at Luca a few times in the previous couple of years and the experience has been pretty consistent. We went to Luca for our Valentine's Day date this year and I would overall rate the experience as average to slightly below average based on the cost of the dinner. We shared an appetizer, each ordered one non-alcoholic cocktail, and our entrees. I had three Halibut and she had the Spaetzlie di Elsa. Each of those meals were really nice and probably worth the price, but I wouldn't say the value was overwhelmingly high. For $87 plus tip it was fine, I expect pretty good food for that price and that's what we got. Really, what keeps this place from getting 4 starts is the service, as each of the last two times she and I have eaten at Luca the wait time for our entrees has been close to an hour after ordering. To their credit, they did give us a free side this time, which was good. Overall, it's what I would expect given the cost and the service has sucked the last two times we've eaten there.
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Chris L.

Yelp
Cute little Italian restaurant in Lancaster, PA, which has interestingly become a hot spot for top notch cuisine. Restaurant is neat, but very, very crowded with tables right on top of each other. The place could also stand to use some sound dampening. Overall though, it's still cute, but it could use some improvements. Service was decent, though honestly, room for improvement. If they were aiming for the "we'll see you at the start and barely see you again," kind of atmosphere that is common in Italy, they nailed it. Server was nice enough though, when he was present. Food was incredibly good. We started off with some homemade bread and the burrata, and both were incredibly good. The burrata was smooth and creamy, and the accoutrements were on point. For dinner, we ordered two pizzas and two pasta dishes, then did the family style thing. Both pizzas were very, very good, and the crust was top notch. Pizza was perfectly cooked. The pastas were also absolutely amazing, with the gnocchi light and fluffy and the tagliatelle scrumptious. The sauce in each was worthy of licking the bowl, and had it not been I had saved some extra bread to wipe the sauce with, I probably would have. I have no shame when it comes to food. Overall, the place really needs some sound dampening, and the service was okay, but the food makes up for the downsides here. Definitely a place I will go back.
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Denise L.

Yelp
My family and I ordered takeout from LUCA, and it did not disappoint! Though takeout availability will depend on how many reservations they might have a night, we were advised to try on Wednesday or Thursday rather than the weekend when there's a little more time. I called on a Thursday around 4:30 pm, and they had all our orders ready for pickup by 5 pm! We ordered... - Squash blossoms appetizer: These were deep-fried but so fresh and delicious. My only recommendation to elevate this further is to perhaps consider stuffing it with something like a housemade ricotta, but it was excellent nonetheless. - Gnocchi: This was a real highlight and stood out from the crowd! They tasted fresh and handmade, not too sickly creamy. Incredibly flavorful! - Fusili: I loved how fresh the pesto on this was! It's a simple dish, but a perfect summer pasta! - Bianco Rosso Pizza: As I have family members who like a simple pizza, I think this was a good alternative to the margherita. The cheese and tomato choice really complemented each other well! - Zephyr Pizza: Wow. We didn't expect this to be such a favorite, but the zucchini and squash blossoms on this were sooooo good! It becomes a surprisingly great vehicle to the cheese, keeping the pizza too oozy and delicious when you bite into it, and the vegetables seem to absorb all the rich flavors. I highly recommend this one! - Salted caramel budino: YES!! I would've loved to have this all assembled in the restaurant for the dine-in version, as they separated all the ingredients for takeout. But even then, this was a delightful finish to our meal! I can't wait to come back for the opportunity to eat in person!
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Lisa C.

Yelp
I loved this restaurant! It had a great vibe and the food was wonderful. My husband and I shared two small plates: crispy roasted potatoes and tuna. The potatoes were crispy but unlike any I had experienced. The combination of garlic, rosemary, schmaltz, and aged-vinegar aioli was perfect. The tuna was flaky and delicious set atop heirloom tomatoes with charred cucumber, olives and anchovy. On the recommendation of our outstanding server Olivia, we ordered the mais pizza. Cooked in a wood-burning oven, this pizza boasted corn cream, sweet corn, prosciutto, shishito peppers, and caputa mozzarella. Not only did Olivia provide good suggestions, she also delivered exemplary service. In addition to the menu items, the chef also sent out tempura poke beans with pesto - AMAZING!
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Elizabeth S.

Yelp
Way too overpriced for small portions. The quality of food was good, but service was slow. We came at 5PM on Friday and waited 45 mins for an outside table, so I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time. When we were finally seated and ordered, food took another 30-40 minutes to arrive. All the dishes came at once, which was unexpected. The burrata was the best dish we ordered, so I'd give it a 5/5. The jam and pistachios at the bottom complemented the burrata perfectly. The burrata and jam also enhanced the flavor of the beef entree we got. For $35, the beef skewer entree was overpriced and I have had similar quality beef dishes for under $10. The sweet corn was the best part of this dish. 3/5 The gem salad was good, and had croutons. However, I heard people raving about the gem salad on reddit so I was left disappointed. It's good, but not that good. Especially for the price of $15. 4/5
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Tajee A.

Yelp
This place is a hidden gem in the city! Met some friends here for a dinner and had the most amazing time! The honey truffle was spot on! My gnocchi dish was pretty good but the chicken over cabbage was to die for! Ambiance is pretty cool. Kind of small inside but makes it more intimate my opinion. Server was so nice too!
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Heather H.

Yelp
We made a reservation for 6 of us on a Friday evening. The ambiance was cute and our server was very attentive. We were seated immediately and they brought waters while we were reviewing the menu. Most of us opted for cocktails - I had the negroni bianco which was a lovely yellow gin drink served with a lemon twist. I definitely am a fan. I do wish it was served in a highball glass with a massive ice cube because it was a bit strong, but its easy to make do when its tasty. We ordered the focaccia, burrata, crostino and octopus to start. Our server pointed out the focaccia only came with 4 pieces and suggested two orders - but when they arrived they were HUGE. We totally could have done with one order. They also were a bit burned and really hard to bite. And - the burrata came with nothing but the tiny little ball of cheese. It was delicious, but we totally wished she suggested TWO cheeses and one bread. The crostino was the hit at the table - it was slightly smoky. very cheesy, and omg so delicious. And... the octopus was forgettable. For entrees, we all ordered pasta - either the lobster ravioli or the gnocchi. We also had a side of the gem lettuce and radishes. I didn't care of the radishes but the gem lettuce was absolutely delicious. My ravioli was a bit disappointing. I mean, it was cooked perfectly, but the flavor just felt muted and it was such a small portion compared to the other pastas. Overall - it was a relatively delicious night out and we'd recommend this spot for others in the area.
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Katie T.

Yelp
We came back for our second visit to Luca! This time we brought my parents. Husband had the alla'antica cocktail and I had the Luca sour which were both fantastic. They have definitely upped their ante in the drink department. Our server was wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable. She threw in a bit of wit which goes a long way with our crowd. We loved that. The dock of a star was due to 2 things; first, they got rid of serving pizza here which is probably THE most disappointing thing you could have done to us haha. I get that pizza is probably a money maker which is why they opened a new location, I just wish they would have kept it in house. Additionally, in my opinion, when you charge $25+ for an entree, you can at LEAST include bread at the table. Instead we had to pay $6 for the house made focaccia. Sort of poor form in my book. The food also took forever to get to our table. I think this restaurant is going to have to move soon. They are getting much too popular to stay in such a small space. I had to reserve a table at the end of June for a September visit. The last thing to note is that, despite what the website says, the parking lot that they own is NOT big. It maybe fits 10-12 cars. I would not call this a "large parking lot". I had the lamb cannelloni and my husband had the spiedini skewer; both were out of this world in flavor. We will return, but we hope for some minor, guest-enhancing tweaks.
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Ben M.

Yelp
I was blown away by our latest visit. Our sampling included the housemade focaccia, crispy potatoes, little gem lettuces, wood-grilled cauliflower, carbonara, and paccheri. The crispy potatoes and paccheri were my favorites. The spice on the potatoes was perfect and the aioli was the best I've had. The paccheri was very creative and beautifully presented. Reminded me of a pot roast baked ziti. Very hearty and filling.
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Bansri P.

Yelp
Have been there 3 times. Feel that the food and experience has progressively declined each time. Our first visit in the summer was the absolute best. The gnocchi with truffle and corn, pesto pasta dish, and shishito peppers were amazingly flavorful and cooked to perfection. The vegetarian options were quite disappointing at our most recent visit. The gnocchi alla nonna was underwhelming, even to our waiter's acknowledgement. However, this was the only vegetarian pasta option on the menu. We got the Spaetzle modified to be made vegetarian, however this was quite flavorless as well. The mushroom crostino was our favorite dish last night. The frito misto is essentially vegetable tempura, however, the flavor was quite bitter and we could not finish this dish. Lastly, the main dining area was freezing cold and quite uncomfortable, to the point where we had to put our jackets on due to the cold air drafting in each time the main door was opened. Few things I would suggest for improvement: 1. Include more vegetarian pasta/main dishes on the menu. 2. Improve the heating for those sitting near the door. 3. Bring back the summer menu!! Loved the shishito peppers and the pesto pasta dish as well. Perhaps always have one dish with truffle or an option to add this on, as this was a huge hit this past summer!
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Hanaa E.

Yelp
The atmosphere of the restaurant is extremely beautiful, the colors of the place is very light with touches of orange that made me feel that I was somewhere in Europe. My friend and I arrived around 5pm and were told there's no seats available in the restaurant unless I wanted to be seated at the bar but that would be at 6:15pm. So my friend decided to sit outside. The waiter was very friendly and knew what he was saying whenever we had questions about the menu. He recommended a pasta called "Buttoni" and the way he talked about it sounded like it's a really great dish, so we ordered it along with a Margherita pizza. Each roughly around $20. Normally for a pizza and pasta dish the wait time would probably take around 15-20min due to having other orders and such. However for this case we ordered and the food did not come until an hour. It was kinda ridiculous to wait for an hour for basic food items. The pizza was decent nothing special but the buttoni was basically tasteless. It was even more disappointing after waiting that long to eat pasta that was very plain and bland. After raising our concerns about the wait time to the manager she sounded sincere about the situation and included "that's why we usually recommend folks to get appetizers". I understand the concept of appetizers but waiting an hour shouldn't be an expectation for simple food in my opinion. Overall I would not come here again.
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Brad R.

Yelp
We have been to Luca over 20 times and it's historically been our favorite restaurant in Lancaster. The past two times we went, in particular the most recent, the food quality has gone down. I ordered the beef spiedini, it's simply a kebab of hangar steak, medium rare. It was served to me beyond well done and I could not eat it, however the crazy $30 price was still charged. They did offer to recook it, but it took almost 1.5 hours to be served and I declined not wanting to wait for who knows how long. Not sure if we will go again or not, but I would highly avoid any of their meat options and stick to the pastas (pizza is no longer available).
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Jim A.

Yelp
Much overrated, this restaurant does indeed have ambiance and good service; but people go out to dinner because they want to EAT, and that's where this place falls short. The first thing we noted was that they too pizza OFF the menu. That's right, no more pizza at all. That is now the specialty of a sister restaurant, elsewhere in Lancaster. The next thing we noted was that nothing on the menu is actually Italian. It's not terrible, but it's not Italian, either. There are a lot of creative dishes, and that may be what you're looking for. We were looking for Italian, and did not find it here.
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Brandon P.

Yelp
Best meal I've had since returning to Lancaster two years ago. Service was perfect. Space is hip, modern, but cozy.
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Breanna S.

Yelp
My husband and I got a gift card to Luca for Christmas from our friends and decided to use it for Valentine's Day. This was such a delicious meal and a lovely experience, we will definitely be back! The tempura fried veggies are a must have.
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Didymus G.

Yelp
This was a night to remember! This was our first time here, and it definitely won't be the last! LUCA is a spacious restaurant, with an incredible, calming ambiance. The restaurant has low lights that give an overall welcoming atmosphere. The food packs a punch with each and every bite, leaving you want more. The service at LUCA was amazing, with our server (Olivia) giving us suggestions and making us feel comfortable for our first time. Overall, we would give this establishment five stars!
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Mike W.

Yelp
An amazing restaurant in Lancaster PA. Highly recommend, they use organic locally sourced ingredients. Ingenious combinations of these ingredients in all their dishes. My wife and I had the following and each was delicious, Asparagus Focaccia Burrata with rhubarb jam Lions mane mushrooms Little gem salad Beet Mezzaluna Pork belly The buildout is really nice, you can sit at the bar, sit on the patio, or the dining area, they even have a separate room for large parties. The alcohol drinks were refreshing, and they have a nice selection of wines. The service was exceptional all the way around. We even got an impromptu performance from some ladies dining on the patio. Reservations highly recommended every day of the week, they get busy. The chefs bar and the patio is open for those of us without reservations. Enjoy.
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Carrie R.

Yelp
I reviewed this place last 5 years ago. It continues to be a culinary power house in Lancaster. Everything we had was exceptional. I cannot ding it in any way on food. But as a big diner around town.... We waited awhile to get our reserved table-- especially with no real waiting area that was awkward. They said... the other party will soon be departing--- so timing of reservations too tight? In terms of dining...The time between appetizer and entree was REALLY LONG. We looked longingly at others getting food... it was REALLY LONG. Service was ok but not exceptional. For such a long wait.... Maybe offer us some bread, a cracker? Or anything to give us hope we might soon get entrees? We did get appetizers so not getting bread or any other table item was surprising--particularly with the exceedingly long wait. (Glad 4 of the 5 of us got apps since we would have been even MORE starving!!) My appetizer special with zebra tomatoes sounded awesome and every bite was delightful but surely more than 4-5 tiny tomato wedges could have been offered. Tasty but not worth the price for the tiny tomato portion. Especially with so much delicious sauce. It's a wonderful restaurant but it's always very crowded, very loud, and the upper seating area is hot AND loud. I'd accept these things without reservation if I didn't have these other dining disappointments. I think this place has wonderful food, but honestly if a friend visiting asked for a recommendation-- I'd point them elsewhere. My pizza was so tasty, as was my colleagues' pasta. We just found the dining experience really lacking compared to elsewhere.
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Itzel S.

Yelp
The food is delicious and the wait staff is very friendly! The only thing is that we had a reservation at the time they opened and they did not unlock or let anyone in until that time. Not necessarily a bad thing, it was just odd as most of us who showed up like to be early.
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Stephen L.

Yelp
Solid Italian restaurant in Lancaster. I started my meal with the House Made Focaccia ($6), which was basically just normal baked bread. I got the Gnocchi ($21), which was a bit too mushy/soft but the overall flavor was great and I really liked the corn in there, which was nice and sweet. In addition, I tried the Salsiccia Pizza ($20), which was pretty good but nothing too special. The prices were decent for this kind of food at a place of this level of niceness. The interior is very nice with an elegant and clean look. I sat in the patio seating area out front, which is also nice but I got several mosquito bites. It was quite busy on a Saturday night, and we waited 20 minutes for a table. The staff were pretty friendly and the service speed was decent. Overall, if you are looking for an elevated yet casual Italian restaurant in Lancaster, Luca could be a great option for you.

Anne W.

Yelp
Ended up with food poisoning after our visit. Contacted the restaurant and received no reply. We originally thought The food was good, though very expensive. Would have highly recommended if we didn't both get food poisoning.

Gus S.

Yelp
Everything is outstanding at this place from service, to food, to drinks, to atmosphere, to friendly servers and management, you name it. one of my favorite places
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Michele K.

Yelp
Was in town for few days & found this place (thank you, Yelp). Nice classy-casual open setting with some outdoor seating. Reservations accepted for indoor seating (credit card required & $50 no-show fee), outside is first come, first served. Probably the best gnocchi I've ever had, served with sweet corn, cream sauce & pancetta. YUM. Partner had chicken with pesto which he enjoyed. Waitress said they change their menu every 6 weeks or so, which is nice. House made foccacia was nothing to write home about. The little gem lettuces (basically a caesar-like salad with a lemon caesar dressing) was big & foccacia croutons were good, but definitely over-priced at $15 ($12 max), but most "caesar" salads are overpriced. I wouldn't get that again, although it tasted good. We dined at 4:00, & place was jumping when we left, which was good to see for a small business. Looking forward to returning.
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Thom M.

Yelp
Tip: I reserved online, I would do so. It was very busy even when I thought it would not have been. Honestly the best Lancaster restaurant experience I've had in a while. Was meeting with my friend on a Thursday night. Our server was quite attentive and gave us everything we needed. The food was wonderful although the portions where small I knew that going in so that did not bother me. I got the swordfish balls. Our water was well stocked and the server was on point. I got a Cannoli for dessert, pretty good although I've never had one before. Overall food was great. I enjoyed a long conversation without bother and the temperature was perfect. The room was clean, open, and pleasant. A perfect environment for a nice fall evening. I really enjoyed it and will be back again.
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Terri C.

Yelp
Make reservations if you come here! Since we didn't have a reservation, we were put on a wait list for the outdoor patio which is on a first come first serve basis. It wasn't overly hot so the patio was lovely which had an umbrella shade. My only issue is that when you dine outside, especially if you are at a table on the other side of the wall with their landscaping, there are bugs! The menu changes and the selection is not huge. We ordered the tagliatelle bolognese , bianco-rosso pizza, and the wood-roasted half chicken. The pasta was good- it's freshly made! The pizza flavor I chose ended up being similar to a regular cheese pizza. There are other flavors too which might be worth trying. The pizza is delicious- the breading texture is soft and fluffy but also crispy. The cheese and sauce was very tasty. The wood-roasted chicken is very spicy. The chicken is moist and you get half a chicken so it comes out huge for 1 person! The warm side dish of vegetables that it comes with is really good. It has just the perfect mix of dressing/sauce. The place is pricey it the food is good.

Margaret D.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing! The small plates- asparagus- fabulous! Little gems salad - outstanding! Drinks are off the charts! Ours dinners, gnocchi and lamb were amazing! The bar staff is incredible! Thanks for a wonderful Mothers Day meal!
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Mackenzie F.

Yelp
LUCA is one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Lancaster and I look forward to going there with so much excitement every time. WHAT WE ORDERED: -Drinks: Espresso Martinis (literally THE BEST) -Appetizer: Burrata - creamy mozzarella, persimmons, smoked prosciutto, extra virgin olive oil -Entrees: Gnocchi - roasted mushrooms, toasted garlic, thyme, taleggio crema, truffle, aged pecorino -Bianco Rosso pizza: mozzarella & pecorino cheese, savory tomato sauce, garlic, evoo, LUCA profumo
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Lexie M.

Yelp
Luca is an adorable restaurant. A friend and I stopped there when we were visiting Lancaster for a conference and were so impressed by the food and service. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable on drinks and food menu items as far as explaining the ingredients and what things would taste like. We were blown away by the food- it was so fresh and unique. I would definitely make the trip up to Lancaster again just to eat here again. So delicious!!!
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M L.

Yelp
Highly recommend. First time last night. Worth the 40 minute drive. Service is lovely as are the hosts. I had accidentally reserved for the following Saturday and they still seated us. Fortunately it was 4:30pm as the place quickly filled up. The food is outstanding and the atmosphere is minimalistic but somehow still warm. The focaccia from the wood burning oven is delicious and served drizzled with a very nice olive oil. My ravioli were very nicely presented and tasty. My husband's pizza was great. Again, the wood burning oven. I enjoyed a very nice glass of isola bianca. Desserts were small zeppoli and tw pistachio crusted cannoli. Can't wait to return.
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Andrew C.

Yelp
LUCA Alley Restaurant - BOY's and MEN's Accessible Public Rest Room Shoot | Handicapped
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Jed W.

Yelp
Wonderful dinner at Luca. It's a great space, in a fairly residential neighborhood with plenty of street parking. The restaurant itself has nice indoor and outdoor seating and high ceilings with good light. We came with the kids and although they don't have kids menu they can do kids pasta and a plain kids cheese pizza. They were both very good. For the adults we had the focaccia, burrata and tempura snap pea appetizers. All delicious. I had their version of an old fashioned and my wife had the special drink which was a peonie spritzer. Both great. Main dishes we definitely over ordered but everything looked so good and, indeed, it was. We had the gnocchi which was tender and served in a delicious lemony butter sauce with ramps. And the tagliatelle in a bolognese sauce was also really good. For pizzas we had the piccante which is their take on a fancy pepperoni with hot honey which was fabulous. And the asparagi which was a white pizza with prosciutto and different cheeses. Very good but very filling. We took the equivalent of an entire pizza home. Regardless, all around delicious meal. We'll be back for sure!

Phantom C.

Yelp
Place is overrated to be honest. Food is always decent some of the pizzas are a bit over the top. Overloaded with toppings a lot of grease. I'd say it is in the top 10 restaurants in Lancaster but further down the list. Over hyped.

Chad H.

Yelp
Great service! Didn't wait long for food and when the food did arrive, it was fantastic! We had gnocchi, a flat bread, and the lamb entree, and it was all delicious. Fun and upbeat atmosphere too! Highly recommend.
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Jennifer Z.

Yelp
Parking: small parking lot which was perfect for our SUV. There are 3compact car spaces. Also, on street parking. Inside: Modern industrial romantic vibe with warm lighting. Friendly greeting upon arrival. I made reservations on-line. (A must-this places is busy) There is a small upstairs, so if you have limitations -tell them when you make reservations. It was a little cramped upstairs. Waitress was prompt & friendly. Weird thing, she said chef prefers to have apps & dinner in at same time. Drinks: beer, wine & cocktails -pricey but good. You get your choice of water at the table too. Got the Luca Sour and a glass of wine. Appetizers/small plates: We got the Focaccia bread with oil. Delicious with a little char from the oven. Dinner: Fungi pizza - good, just a tad to much oil Wood-grilled bronzino fish. It's a white fish that had my hubby wanting another one. It was that good! Waitress recommended it. I don't like some fish but I'd get that. (It comes with head on. Tell them if you want it off) it had white beans with it which we thought was weird at first, but it works. Dessert: the star of the show was Salted Butterscotch. We died and went to dessert heaven.
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Don M.

Yelp
We enjoyed this restaurant very much and thank they have great service and exceptional food. We would recommend you try them.
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Señor F.

Yelp
This place is an absolute neighborhood gem. Stellar service, food, drink selection and authenticity. Only issue was the rabbit pasta special was more of an appetizer portion than a main. Everything else was a banger and we can't wait to return for their yummy looking pizza.
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Rachel A.

Yelp
I went to Lancaster for a mini solo trip and was excited to go to LUCA for a treat-yourself meal. The restaurant interior was pretty, and the atmosphere on a Thursday night was crowded and lively. I had a reservation at the bar for dinner. I was looking forward to trying the frito misto (fried calamari) but the waitress informed me that the fryer was not working that night so I opted to forgo the appetizer and just order an entrée. I ordered the tagliatelle Bolognese and thought it was delicious. The fresh pasta was perfectly cooked and the meat sauce was rich but not too heavy to finish. I would love to come back again to try more menu items, hoping that all the equipment is fixed!

Deacon Tom L.

Yelp
See included pictures for review and parking signs mentioned in the review. I posted this review elsewhere, so it seemed silly to retype it here.

Krista B.

Yelp
First time in and loved it. The gem putting salad and the spaetzle pasta dish was great. Nice cocktails and bar area.

Carolyn G.

Yelp
Sunday meatballs! AMAZING! We will definitely be stopping by if we are ever in the area!
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Charlotte B.

Yelp
I have been to Luca close to 10 times since moving to Lancaster in 2021 and I always have a lovely time. It's obvious the kitchen puts a lot of care into the food they serve and it always surpasses my expectations. The building is warm and comfortable. The service never fails to make me feel welcome and attended to. Thank you, Luca!
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Ant B.

Yelp
Hands down the best pizza we've had in Ohio. Hands. Down. Decent delivery, but I do have to say this is not an inexpensive pizza. Definitely hit up the vampire if you dig garlic. Fantastic.

Emilio P.

Yelp
Had the tagliatelle bolognese. After have never felt so light after eating pasta. The taste was perfectly balanced with the meat, sauce, and the pasta. The restaurant itself is decent, a little loud due to how busy it is but enjoyable. The service was great with good recommendations when asked. Note that the menu with the pizza was not the current menu when I went. although pricey, definitely a good option for a nice diner.
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Bryan R.

Yelp
My fiancé and I have only been to Luca twice and it has a quickly become one of our favorite restaurants to have a nice meal at. We were recently there to celebrate our anniversary and the staff brought us complimentary champagne which was great. We loved all of our food. The focaccia is a great starter and their pizzas are some of the best we've ever had. And while some of the tables are close together, it doesn't feel over crowded. It's a great spot.
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George S.

Yelp
A true 5 star gem! The freshness of the ingredients & creativity of spices takes this Italian Restaurant to an entirely different level! The grilled half chicken is crispy with the perfect amount of "heat" ..it will have you in total delight! The pasta dishes are unique & the perfect portion. There is a cool selection of specialty drinks and the servers are attentive & friendly! Lastly, save room for desert.....they are equally as creative & delicious!
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Russell R.

Yelp
Extremely disappointed. They no longer have pizzas on their menu because they opened a pizza restaurant outside the city. We've been to the new restaurant but it has a stupid ordering concept and is very loud so we're not interested in going there again. The waitress at Luca was rude when we asked about pizzas and expressed our disappointment of their removal from the menu. Guess C'est La Vie will be our go to pizza place in the city now.
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Amy H.

Yelp
We LOVE this place! We've been here twice now while passing through the area. Literally everything we've tried has been delicious! Service is consistently good as well. I love that it's in a neighborhood so parking is simple.
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Sydney C.

Yelp
5/5!!!!!! Such an adorable restaurant, my husband and I loved the atmosphere. Our server was so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. The portions are perfect sized & filling, BEYOND tasty.

Lior M.

Yelp
An overrated restaurant. Came here to celebrate husband's birthday, and while the staff were super friendly and the ambiance was nice; everything else fell short. Our entrées took over 40 mins to reach our table, and when they finally arrived, they were BARELY warm. The staff was swift about making it right, and we appreciate that effort, however the food still left much to be desired. Very far from authentic Italian cuisine and the menu options were quite limiting. Removing the Pizza from this spot was a blunder. Overall 3/5, probably won't be coming back. **Side note** Maybe use your wood-burning ovens to make some nice Italian bread to have tableside with some dipping oil so your patrons don't starve before their entrees arrive.