Lucano

Consistently reliable if you want excellent service and excellent food. We try going to other restaurants and often just end up saying “we should’ve gone to Ristorante Lucano”. I still have yet to order a main course from the menu because their specials are always so good. The cocktails from the bar are the best, highly recommend!

What an amazing experience. The atmosphere was so lovely and the employees so attentive And knowledgeable. Everything was delicious and filled with so much flavor and love probably the best Italian wedding soup I’ve ever had the calamari being different sizes of rings, but especially the tentacles are my favorite and don’t get me started on the Seabass. It was unimaginable that something like that could be made. All I have to say is you need to try this place ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Lucano is our favorite Rochester restaurant. We’ve never had a bad meal there. favorites that we try to get to. The service is excellent and unhurried; just like in Italy. They’ll never bring you a check in Italy because they don’t wanna feel like they’re rushing you.Luciano will definitely bring the check if you want it, but they don’t rush you. A few of our favorites and include the calamari shrimp fry, which is absolutely that driest cleanest tasting fried I’ve ever had. I really don’t like it wanna spoil dripping all over the plate. It practically melts in your mouth. We’re also partial to almost any of the fish menu And my husband loves any of the.macaroni dishes.

We love Amanda! So friendly and personable!! Shout of to Chef John B making magic in the back!! Food was so delicious! Nice atmosphere! Oh, that house made bread was amazing! Perfect for a date night or a couples night out! Support local!

Always a pleasant experience. Owners are always on hand to greet customers and make sure everything is running smoothly. Food is exceptional and specials are innovative. One of my favorite restaurants in Rochester

Can I please please please give this place a million stars? Desserts and Dinners here are out of this world excellent. Plus the owners and staff are so nice!! They make you feel valued and welcome. You need to try this place NOW. Don’t wait.

We knew it would be expensive but over $300 for 4 adults? The servers were awesome, very warm and welcoming. The maze of petite dining areas is cute and cozy. Our table of 4 was scrunched between two other tables for 4, so extremely tight. The mushroom, bacon soup was hearty but never saw nor tasted any bacon. We were not expecting it to be so surprisingly hot and very spicy [not disclosed]. The bread was good but hard to tear, quite chewy. The chicken dish a friend ate was tender and yummy, he said. Another friend liked the salmon very much, even though it was covered with a lot of tomato melange. Covering fish with tomatoes seems off to me, but it did get a thumbs up. The garlic mashed potatoes were Wonderful. [Wish I could have ordered a side of those]. Another friend had the gnocci in a creamy cheese sauce and loved it. It did look very good, and very rich. The pappardelle was definitely homemade, but we never saw any visible signs of sausage as described on the menu. Didn't see eggplant either, although it may have been in the chunky sauce. There were lots and lots of mushrooms. (Why did I have that massive $11 bowl of mushroom zuppa?) The ragu/sauce was tart. I'd expected something a bit sweeter. All in all, everyone had a good meal. The tiny chocolate dessert with Nutella (3" dish) was ok but $10 each, really? After we had examined the bill, we were reminded that there was a 3% additional surcharge for using plastic. We were disappointed with some of the meal, but if money is no object, and you like homemade Italian cuisine, then you will probably enjoy it. Frankly, we were all stunned at the final tab. Bottom line: It might not have been worth $75 a head. Buon appetito!.

Great service and food. The cocktails were as tasty as the food. We had the veal chop special, swordfish, and cod fish. I highly recommend the pistachio dessert. This was a great birthday celebration dinner.

First time here and I felt like family. Amazing service, great recommendations and great food. We started with the Fritto Misto calamari and shrimp and lovely bottle of Tuscan wine. I ordered the gnocchi, my sister and her sister in law had crab cakes, they were huge with delicious moist crab with a crispy outside. My boyfriend had the lamb chop which was cooked perfectly medium rare. Very nice relaxing dinner. I will be back!

The flavor of most of the food and the service were 5 stars. We had the bread w rosemary-olive oil (nice), swordfish (delish!), garlic mashed potatoes (ooh), side of pasta (perfect), green beans and zucchini. The chicken with ital veg was average. The reason not 5stars is because it was overpriced and the serving of swordfish was too small. Also, they seated us next to the restroom even though it was early and room empty. You can tell people are trying but the place comes off as pretentious. I prefer that the food speaks for itself.

Excellent food, service, decor, wine list. My favorite Italian restaurant in town. Quiet , relaxing, original art work. Ample parking; handicapped accessible. Authentic recipes; quality ingredients. Highly recommend this place. Don't be misled by the modest exterior. Directly across from Wegmans in the small strip mall that includes Wok takeout.

WOW! Talk about an awesome restaurant? This is IT! It is simply outstanding! Tonight I enjoyed the most delightful salad with beautiful greens, grapes, pears, strawberries, candied walnuts and all so fresh! My entree of panco crusted Baramundi was heaven! I so enjoyed the whole night. Go! This is dining at its' best!

A lovely upscale Italian restaurant! The food is wonderful and the service was great. I will go again, soon!

My family gathered last night to honor and remember my deceased husband on his birthday. Joanne and Carl created the most wonderful experience the two C's our servers were beyond helpful, pleasant and accommodating. They anticipated our needs before We even expressed them We were 17 people and the entire party went smoothly now for the food: the hors d'oeuvres Exquisite each person raved about their meal from the lasagna to the swordfish to the cowboy steaks. Everything was cooked to perfection and we finished with an array of amazing desserts. All of this took place while they had a full house of other diners. thank you thank you thank you

Very excellent traditional Italian food. I don't think there's a bad choice on the menu. I had spaghetti with meat sauce and it was excellent and was great for the next day's lunch. Highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for real Italian cuisine.

Why did I not give five stars? First of all the food was great! Given The world economy the prices are very fair. And although you may think of it is Italian there's a lot of great items that are not what most Americans think of as Italia. I am not to say that it's not common in Italy, But just that what American people generally think of. Some Example's, I had a great generous amount of a rack of lamb, 8 so-called lollipops with Garlic Mashed potatoes as well as asparagus. I almost ordered a cowboy style ribeye steak on the bone 22 ounce . For the rare people who don't specifically like Italian food (although I don't know many) there are many items that you would not have trouble finding. The only slight negative to the food was the bread and butter. The Italian bread was mediocre and the butter was in separate plastic. To go 5 Star you don't use plastic with butter. Now the small points that make it less then 5 Stars. First, the interior architecting is very blocky. You walk in the restaurant and you will see the host/hostess/owner. To the right person s a separate room which is the Bar and waiting area. Then... when you are ready to go to you dinner table you have to leave the Bar room, go past the hostess area and finally go to the Main Room. Not terrible, but an odd movement. Then there is the WC, the BATHROOM, it is basically in the center of the room! To be honest, if nobody used it you probably might not even notice it, but people to do, so that too takes a little away. Then there is the romance that this restaurant projects to sell. Saturday night, at 7 PM there were Many empty tables in a room that was quite bright. Not terrible but less then romantic. The final problem was the waitress and possibly the male owner(?)/host, not exactly charming, not extremely capable. On the other hand the female hostess/owner(?) was fine with the normal charm that you would expect. Several other waitresses that were not ours were much more charming and capable. But be fair, you would rather have a server that is less then perfect, then no waitress at all. Or even worse, so few you need to make a reservation 3 weeks in advance. Be careful, good chance the restaurant business will never be the same after Covid. Now the dollars, 4 people, 2 bottles of wine, 4 salads, 1 appetizer 3 orders of Rack of Lamb, one order of gnocchi and 1 desert... total before top $83 per person... I consider At TODAYs price very fair. I will happily be back.

Ristorante Lucano has it all! A warm welcome, cozy atmosphere and attentive service! And the food! Delicious and beautifully presented. We have been here many times and have never once been disappointed. Treat yourself. I know we will again!

The staff is amazing, thoughtful, and professional. We experienced a wonderful meal with a knowledgeable and helpful waiter. This was the absolute BEST swordfish ever, moist and tender when so often it is dry or undercooked. Would highly recommend this gem of a restaurant for a lovely dining experience in a calm atmosphere.

Authentic Italian food from a family that knows the cuisine intimately. The food is consistently excellent. The breadth and depth of the menu is brilliant and the quality is superb. The service is outstanding. And the bar is a real treat.

Don't let the restaurant's exterior fool you- this is no typical strip mall restaurant! Lucano's has been recommended to me a few times and we finally got around to making a reservation. It was a good thing we had one because all of the tables were full at 7pm on a Friday when we went. Our waitress was very very friendly, as was the owner who came to check on us a few times. The food was delicious! We loved the salad special of the night. The entrees were also very good with large portions (photos taken after a few bites!) My only complaint about our experience is that the food came out at a true Italian pace- lots of time between courses. Normally I wouldn't mind too much, but I had to work the next morning and it was getting late. Next time (and there will be a next time!) we'll either make an earlier reservation or go on a night when I don't have to be up early the next day.

Good Italian restaurant in Rochester. Warm cozy interior. Great bar area. Friendly attentive service. Enjoyed my rack of lamb they was accompanied by two side choices. Dessert of tartufo was great. Plenty of parking and convenient location.

The taste has always been the same, great. Excellent preparation, plating and taste. This is Italian food at its best. Don't look for a burger or a kid's meal on the menu. Don't look for red sauce and mounds of cheese. This is Italian food like you would find in the best restaurants in Italy. The portions are ample. The veal medallions, covered in a rich gravy, were enough for two. The Osso Buco was perfectly cooked. There was plenty of marrow in the bone and they provided a small fork to harvest bone essence. The cocktails were made with liquor if you know what I mean. They expanded the restaurant, now there is more room for guests.

I have heard about Ristorante Lucano for a few years- decided to try it for my wife's birthday. I made a reservation- which I suggest as it is not a huge place- it has a few smaller, quaint rooms. The service was very good and attentive. We split the sausage and red pepper appetizer- which we enjoyed. We both ordered the veal scallopini - I had it with fingerling potatoes and green beans. We each took some home. It's a great authentic Italian restaurant- check it out!

This is a TRUE Italian restaurant in the heart of Rochester on East Avenue. Located in an a small strip mall type of building across from East Ave. Wegmans it has a small parking lot- but for what it lacks in parking it makes up for in food quality and staff friendliness. We had a total party of six and I have to say every single person enjoyed their meal. I especially loved their homemade sausage appetizer- if you like sausage you have to try it! Two individuals had their soup of the day, which happened to be broccoli cheddar soup and I was told it was delicious. For my entree I had the Pappardelle alla Montanara, which is homemade wide pasta tossed with homemade sausage, mushrooms, diced eggplant and tomatoes. I would order this again in a heartbeat. My boyfriend had the Gnocchi al Sugo di Agnello: light potato gnocchi with traditional lamb sauce, which he said was outstanding. He also had a piece of the tiramisu which was gone before I could even get a bite to try it. I can't wait to go back and try more menu items! But I will be having the sausage appetizer again for sure!

Not the place to go if money is tight or if you're sticking to a strict diet... but if you're out for a special occasion or just pampering yourself this is the place for you! We were invited to join friends for a birthday celebration and were a little skeptical when we pulled in to the parking lot of a small, dated strip mall that they share with a drycleaner and a somewhat sketchy looking Chinese restaurant... But looks are often deceiving. When we walked through the door everything changed. There is a small, cozy bar area to the right of the hostess stand. We didn't take advantage of the bar but it looked delightful for a pre or post dinner drink. We were quickly greeted by the host and hostess... Who I'm sure are the owners. They were so gracious and genuine that we felt like family before we were even seated. There were two small dining areas with maybe 15 tables. Nicely decorated and comfortable without being over the top. It felt homey. Our server, Andrew, was fairly young and seemed quite new. What he lacked in experience and polish he more than made up for with a genuinely strong effort to make our visit special. Everyone starts somewhere and he had plenty of back up from the rest of the staff. Loved him and the hostess was clearly delighted when Melinda complemented him on the way out. The food, well, I can't say enough. It was fantastic! From the best calamari I've ever had to a delicious frutti di bosco (lemon Chantilly cream with assorted berries and flaky crust) it was a true delight and any worries of cost or diet went out the window. My entree was Pollo Alla Lucano, roasted chicken with a pomodoro sauce and asiago & mozzarella. I chose it as it fit into a low carb diet (yes, I was fooling myself last night) better than the pasta dishes. The sides were green beans and glazed carrots... Prepared with as much care and almost as delicious as the entree. Better by far than the delicious chicken Parm that is a staple in most Italian restaurants. This was a true hidden dining delight and will go on our short list of favorites for special nights out. So grateful to the owners and the staff for a great experience.

Ristorante Lucano stands as my favorite Italian restaurant in the ROC. Located in a plaza across form the East Ave Wegmans, Lucano is a hidden, Italian gem! I came here for Valentine's day dinner and they definitely gave 5-star service. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna while my girlfriend ordered the rack of lambs, broccoli, and mashed potatoes. NOTE: these dishes DO take a little longer to cook, which was fine by us. It gave us time to enjoy wine, appetizers, and each other's company :) The calamari as an appetizer was a great choice! Crisped to perfection and tasted pretty fresh! This dish was enjoyed with their complimentary bread and herbed butter. We were blown away by the flavors from the main course! Even though I'm a pescatarian, I HAD to steal a piece of my girlfriend's lamb, and MY GOSH! Made me think twice about transitioning back to meat! I am definitely returning to this restaurant in the near future and plan on telling more people about this hidden gem of an Italian restaurant!

Delicious. Again today I read the menu and ordered one of the specials. They truly are special. The waiter was great. He knew when we were kidding around a bit and when were serious. He had good suggestions. The food is outstanding. There is enough space that you do not hear the conversation next to you. And it is quiet enough that it is easy to hold a conversation. The wall paintings are really interesting. I'm not sure how to describe them but the best I can do is old world walls with simple paintings. They aren't stone, but the 3-D paint job makes them look that way. They must have someone touch them up regularly because they haven't changed but always look good. We have always had very good service and excellent food. We are slightly concerned that they weren't busier this evening and hope more people find out about them.

3.5 Stars. I would have never known about Lucano until a friend suggested it. It is hidden in a small plaza across from East Ave Wegmans. I have even driven by a few times and never noticed it. My husband and I have been here twice now in the last couple of months. We were blown away the first time so we decided to come back. The second time the food was alright. We made a reservation both times before coming here. The specials are extensive and not written down. The servers have it memorized by heart, pretty impressive. They are really nice and provide excellent service. Lucano offers a couple of different waters. The butter is whipped which makes it so much easier to spread on the plain or cheesy Parmesan bread. Both times that we were here, the appetizer special was the Frito Misto. We loved it so much, we ordered it again. The shrimp, scallop, and calamari lightly breaded and deep fried is so good with the dipping sauce. My mouth waters thinking about it. I got the Gnocchi alla Panna both visits. I like the creamy doughy pillows. The second time I ordered it, it was a bit oily. My husband got the gnocchi al Sugo di Agnello (lamb sauce), it was too gamey and on the bland side. Order the desserts! I got 2 desserts the second time we came here. I found out Lucano special orders them from Italy so you can not get it anywhere but here. The ricotta & pistachio cake is so light and fluffy, not too many restaurants offer a pistachio dessert. I absolutely love this dessert! The toasted almond cake is very sweet and you can definitely taste the almond flavor. I like Ristorante Lucano but I don't love it. It on the fancier side of Italian food.

Never disappoints! I have been here a handful of times and it is such a cozy place for a romantic dinner. I love how all of the staff were so accommodating and friendly it really felt like family. The food is always amazing and tastes so home cooked. I love the espresso martini and my go to is always the veal chop... it isn't on the menu but usually is one of the many specials. Lucano is always a great choice for seafood as well. I like the pasta too but it didn't blow me away...I prefer veal chop or seafood when I come here. The servers are always helpful when trying to pick out what wine I wanted for dinner and what would go best with my entree. This is a great spot to hit for some cold weather comfort food since I don't believe they have outdoor seating. Must go! I feel like this place is such a Rochester hidden gem.

Dinner foods were good. Not great. Service was very disappointing. After being seated for 30-seconds the waitress asked if we wanted an appetizer. I told her we just sat down give us a minute. Time between the salad and entrees was rushed. I was eating my salad when a male server reached between my fork full of salad and my mouth with an entree for the person to my right. Disgusting and a major turn off and I damn near went crazy on him. The ambiance left much to be desired. If you like old and musty and dark and dingy this place is for you. Very dark colors with dirty light fixtures and bulbs, missing electrical cover plates on outlets, and cobwebs. Once and done. Won't be going back. Yuk.

The restaurant doesn't look like much from the exterior,but once you enter you are pleasantly surprised. I came with a large group and we all ordered something different and everything was delicious... not good but delicious. Highly recommend.

You wouldn't know how awesome this little known Italian family owned restaurant hidden away in a small strip mall would be until you walk in and are greeted by the owners ! Just as any Italian home you are made to feel apart of the family. This is not a big place but the food is Large on taste and quality. Reservations are a must. Small parking lot shared by other businesses but doable. Everything is home made no frozen stuff here. If your really lucky as we were the owners will even pull up a chair and have a conversation with you as if you were at the home kitchen table sitting around for Sunday Sauce and only Italians would understand that! This is one of Rochesters hidden gems of a real Italian restaurant. When your there be sure to say hi to the owner Chuck ! Don't wait , now go make a reservation!!!

Ok I will be perfectly frank about this.. I was not too sure what to expect. Why because the reviews on this place on Yelp were pretty mixed. We came here for my birthday I was slightly hesitant but after a review by a local radio station and a local food blogger saying it's worth the visit, I figured let's give it a shot. It's in a small strip mall across the street from the East Ave Wegmans. It shares the mall with a dry cleaner, Canaltown Coffee and a Chinese take out. This space is very deceiving and as you walk thru you see it's larger than expected. When you come in to the right hand side is the bar and hostess stand. They greet you warmly (the bar area not huge but big enough for people to hang out and have a cocktail) FYI they are on Facebook and Instagram. The place is painted in a darker beige with a dark green going around the bottom half of the wall. They have some murals of Italy on the wall as well. I understand that the owners are from Italy a plus.. but.. If you have been to Italy although this is a good menu it's more like a mash up of Italian/Italian American dishes. They have all the pastas, chicken and specials galore when we went they had Rabbit and at least five fish specials (it's Lent, duh LOL) I give the wait staff a lot of credit remembering all the specials. Bravo.. we got one of the special appetizers if Frito Misto (Calamari, Shrimp and Scallops) fried up, nicely plated with a spicy tangy dipping sauce. I just wished it came with more sauce with all the fish you need more sauce than a tiny sized.. see the photo. To start they ask if you would want something to drink and yes we got a couple bottles of Pellegrino and I got a glass of Procecco. They bring out seasoned olive oil, a homemade compound butter and bread it was good but not freshly baked or hot (I think it's from some bakery) they also included some cheese bread that was lightly warmed. I think in all honesty the bread could have been warmed it would have been phenomenal. Just a tip they ask you to order everything at once but it is coursed out just a tip. With our Frito Misto we got basically a anti pasti plate of salamis, cheeses, artichokes and olives. We liked it but was it needed this second app no, was it good yes. We both looked at the menu and as we perused it we both realized I can and have made a lot of this or my husband has. I have enough Italian relatives/family/friends that certain things I won't order.. at first I thought the Rabbit would be something but we both got the Veal as it's something we don't make. We got the Scaloppne with Mushrooms in a Cognac Sauce (Scaloppne ai funghi e cognac) it comes with two sides a starch and a vegetable. We both got the garlic mashed potatoes and the butternut squash purée (I was gonna get green beans but he told me/us about other side options) now this was all plated on a white plate, but to give you perspective. It was brown, than white, than orange with some fresh parsley on top to give it color. I almost wished the sides were on another place but hey that's me. Everything was tasty but.. I wished my mashed potatoes were a little hotter and the veal needed a touch more salt. I should have busted out my tin of Mauldon Salt yes I'm that person. But I refrained it was still tasty and FYI no salt and pepper on the table. All in all the main course/apps were tasty and I'd order it again. Last we ordered desert to celebrate my birthday and we got the ricotta and pistachio cake. This was lovely not too sweet and the smooth ricotta with the pistachio cake/sponge was lovely. Service is not rushed, and they know their stuff. It's unobtrusive and helpful without being cloying. The bill comes out by one of the owners and he was making the rounds of the room. We made a 6:30 reservation and half way thru our dinner it got busier. I get the feeling they have a lot of regulars. If your looking for an age bracket on who comes here. It's pretty much all over the map so it does not steer to young or too stuffy. It's a hidden gem and I guess been here for a LONG TIME. If your bringing a food snob with you tell them to just relax and get a cocktail or bottle of wine (they have a pretty good list) and just enjoy no it's not Mossimo's place in Modena, Italy.. but it's solid fare and I'm sure they have different specials for the seasons. This is a casual place with good food. Give them a shot, it might be fun for a group dinner and you may be able to order family style.. might be fun. Take every review on here with a grain of salt. You may feel I'm full of it so be it... I'd say give it a shot, I'll be back. Parking is available in the shared lot or next door by the church. Cheers!

The restaurant was clean and water glasses were kept filled - that is the good part. The bad part, veal was tough, gnocchi tasted like they were store bought frozen ones, sauce tasted like it was poured out of a can with no flavor other than tomato. Our waiter was so,so, did not seem interested in waiting on small party but I understand everyone is out for the money, but the waitress who was taking care of the large loud party they sat us next to, kept our water glasses filled and wrapped up the lousy tasting gnocchi that i tossed out and it was overpriced. Not impressed.

Family run...wonderful Sicilian cuisine. Cozy atmosphere. A must. I was here for a special private event and the meal unfolded in a very traditional Sicilian manner...tasty Italian bread, Fried calamari with a wonderful not too spicy mayonnaise based dipping sauce and amazingly flavorful grilled shrimp! Next came the fresh salad with a balsamic dressing, penne pasta with fresh mozzarella and a light tomato/basil. For our event there was lean steak with a delicious mushroom flavored sauce and a wonderful buttery/tasty mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables such as broccoli, green beans and baby carrots sautéed in olive and garlic. The wines are mostly Italian and they are perfect for the meal. The small bar has excellent cocktails...I had the Sicilian Donkey...Limoncello, ginger beer, vodka and muddled mint and lime. I didn't have the dessert because I was so full but they looked delicious...pastry filled with Chantilly cream, chocolate and berries, cream puffs with chocolate and vanilla cream.

Consistently excellent dining experience! As usual, the food was absolutely cooked to perfection. My husband had the cod special and I had the walleye, both tasted so fresh. The beef specials also sounded amazing so we may have to return soon. The amaretto peach martini was delicious!

I'm not going to talk about how great the food is here. I highly recommend this hidden place, and you MUST try it on a special occasion/ or a random night out (who cares). Seriously, anything you order here will defendant be memorable. The vibe of the place is not casual so you probably need to dress up a little bit.

First visit since Covid. The quality of food here never disappoints! Call early in the week as reservations are needed.....that's because everyone knows this restaurant is one of the best in town.

I don't know how it took me so long to try Lucano. It is worth every penny. I echo everyone else who says it looks pretty questionable from the outside with its plaza-esque vibes. But the inside is a warm, cozy and classy. Completely surprising and the food is served with love. The service is unmatched. We were a very colorful and vibrant group and our waitress had a wonderful sense of humor. The wine was decadent. The food is out of this world. Everyone was sharing bites of one another's dishes, and we honestly couldn't decide what the best was. But in my personal opinion, the gnocchi definitely was. The creamy gnocchi.

Fantastic place for Italian food. Served at a casual pace to enjoy every last bite. Dress is casual to the occasional suit and tie. Wine list is short but packed with fantastic wines which compliment the menu. Definitely save room for dessert. Check out this restaurant, you will definitely be back for more.

Really come on, it's good food but I guess I'm missing the love. I've never had greens n beans where the beans are ground into a paste like consistency. The mushroom soup of the day was beyond good, one of the best I've had for consistency and flavor. The pastas we ordered are not made in house or fresh so there's a loss, with a vegetarian in the mix we asked for the pancetta on the side, no the kitchen won't do that... REALLY? After we were done we received the suggestion to do 1/2 order without meat 1/2 order with, well good suggestion a little late though. I'd have loved to have seen a little more veggie in the dish in general but definitely if you're taking out the meat. They won't.....I took a picture, I like a yeah we can do that place, or a yeah we can try to do that place. Dessert was skipped cause it comes from Italy, I wish it was made in house or locally.

Excellent food and service. This is the second time in a week we went to Luciano. This was the first Italian restaurant visited since our trip to Italy and by far the best Italian restaurant in Rochester and for that matter the best I think in upstate NY. Don't hesitate it's the real deal.

Our first time here. We had dinner in the sweet quaint bar at a high top table. Not noisy at all. Our waitress was great.. personable, welcoming and great service. The food was authentic Italian.. gnocchi was done just right snd the sauce exceptional. I think the owners were onsite and made you feel like they knew you. Definitely coming here again.

Everyone has different taste buds, having grown up in Miami where it's a melting pot of food diversities I've tasted a lot of good and not so good, which is why I like Yelp. Having GONE to Italy though not to compare to real Italian this wasn't it for us. Not a place I'd return. It was quite loud, no music, cold bread --- let me clarify that our server was pleasant luckily she brought out water in a timely fashion as well as two bread baskets while we waited for our food. Food took 45-50 min (lasagna and gnocchi ) -- I was surprised but okay fine you're making it from scratch? Right? I think by dessert she knew we weren't pleased but what are you going to say 'no the food is not what we really wanted or thought we'd get? You say 'good' and move on with your life. At the end she asked in a shocked/surprised voice if we weren't even go to look at dessert. Fine judge us for not getting dessert or anything else on the menu. I'm not here to bash the place, I'm sure they try their best. But this definitely HAS to be a seafood and wine place both of which are listed too but neither of us eat. Not really 'Italian', so that is why we ordered things that we did/could eat. This is a warning for all my fellow Dietery restriction people out there. Very limited options on that front. It was hard for me with my condition to even order an appetizer which we enjoy doing. It helped that we sat away from the rest of the loud folk but we were definitely looking for something more intimate and enjoyable. Also, Kayla (our sever that night) this isn't about you. I'm sure my husband tipped you well regardless of our food experience. Please note regardless of the poor food experience wherever we go we tip out severs and waitresses well. It's not their fault that the food wasn't what was expected or the experience, like I said she was very attentive in her capabilities. And that is my FULL review of this spot. 2/5 mostly because the service was for the most part good. BTW if you do go, attire is business casual at most. There was people wearing shorts which was super casual. But business casual will do, which is what my husband and I did.

This is the place for fish in Rochester- hands down. Somehow every single fish special ends up being my new favorite meal. Truly a hidden gem of the city. Mashed potatoes are amazing and the staff treats you like family. Will always be my suggestion for a nice night out.

Had a wonderful anniversary dinner here with my boyfriend. The food was delicious, the service was great (our waiter's name was Bill), and most importantly, I was full by the end of the dinner. The prices were as expected of a fine dining establishment, and the portions were fair for the prices. My boyfriend and I both had nothing bad to say about this awesome restaurant.

AMAZING!! The service is top notch and the food is delicious! Everything from the bread to drinks to desserts. Even without a reservation we only waited 15 minutes to get seated and got service soon after. This is a must go for a romantic evening!

Ristorante Lucano has always been my go-to for my very special occasions. It has always been an incredible and perfect experience. I had reservations for 6pm, but showed up early at 5:35pm. We were immediately greeted and Christina, who's been there for more than a decade, asked us if we wanted to sit down right away due to our table being ready. What really blows my mind is the fact she remembered my name, where I worked, and even down to where I sat the last time I dined here (which was last year). Incredible memory. We unfortunately didn't have Christina as our server, but we had Bob who was a pleasure and very knowledgeable. We started with a couple appetizers. We ordered the Mushroom Bisque which was very tasty. Wasn't overly creamy and had a strong mushroom aroma. We also ordered the Caprese, which has always been a favourite. Nothing better than sliced tomato with fresh imported bufala mozzarella accompanied with olive oil and a vinaigrette. Onto the mains which I opted for the Salmon Special with Honey Glazed Carrots and Garlic Mashed Potatoes as my sides. The salmon was most tender and incredibly soft. The technique used to cook this salmon made this dish easily in my top 3 best salmon dishes I've ever had in any restaurant. It was explained as it's started on the grill, then makes its way into the oven to finish. The salmon was absolutely delicious. For the lady, she had the Gnocchi alla Panna. This was a great dish. The Gnocchi had a very pleasant texture, and the sauce with the peas, pancetta, and mushroom was beyond delicious. I cannot stress how perfectly the sauce and the gnocchi worked together. This was an outstanding dish. For dessert, we ordered one of our favourites, the Coppa 3 Chocolates. This was a great way to end our meal. Fluffy white chocolate mousse on top, milk chocolate in the middle, and a dark chocolate on the bottom with some crunchy bits. We also ordered the cheesecake special with strawberry which was out-of-this-world. Possibly the best cheesecake I've ever had. The texture and the flavour was delicate and simple but yet, done so well. I've never had a single bad experience, and for many years this has been on my top 3 favourites. Due to this experience, I'm quite certain this is not only my personal favourite restaurant in Rochester, but the best restaurant in Rochester in my opinion. I want to note that we did have some leftovers to take home, and after Bob boxed it up for us, Chuck (The Owner) came by, asked how everything was and even bagged our boxes up for us. That is a clear sign of a genuine, and kind man. This simple act alone speaks volumes. Very rarely do I encounter a restaurant that nails the atmosphere, the quality of the food, the presentation, and the service. All categories, are spot on. A 10/10.

My buddies and i ate at Lucano on a wintry night. The atmosphere was cozy -- we sat in a small room with four tables, other rooms had more tables -- like eating in a large house. We had appetizers -- beet salad, skewered shrimp, baked oysters. The baked oysters were a hit, smoothened warm and buttery topped with cheese. We had fish for dinner, striped bass or rockfish, big chunky whitefish, browned on top, juicy within, with our choice of vegetables. Desserts included peanut butter ice cream in a chocolate egg, profiteroles, and a creamy crunchy almond cake. An excellent meal!

Consistently reliable - very good service and delicious food. We've been here a number of times (8-9?) over the past couple of years. If we need a think of a place to bring out of town friends for a good meal this always makes the list of options. Every time, every part of every meal was completely delish. Always good service. As the other reviews clearly indicate good food and service. Make a reservation. Parking can be problematic but you can park next door in the church parking lot if needle. If there is a down-side it is the "intimacy" often cited by other Yelpers, which equates to the conversations of the loud diners intruding into your experience. It has occurred very time. If you could get the place (or even half of any of the rooms) alone for your table - it would be five stars.

Such a unique place, you think you're going to a bare bones strip mall restaurant and then you walk in and it's beautifully transformed in to a neighborhood bistro. The food was great, I loved the beet salad. Service was very pleasant and anytime a server walked by they filled water and checked on us.

After reading all of the spectacular reviews of Lucano's I was so excited to go here to have a really nice dinner out with a friend, only to be completely devastated by the food preparation. Although the service was impeccable and easily the best I've had almost anywhere in Rochester, the two EXTREMELY over-cooked, over-priced fish entrees ruined my entire evening. When fish requires *force to cut through* instead of flaking away beautifully, you just know something's wrong. Maybe it was my fault for having such high expectations, but I have not been let down so hard in a very long while. At the beginning of the meal, the really great wait staff brought us bread and EVOO + fresh herbs, which was really nice, but I was let down because the bread was cold, dry, and hard, likely having been sitting out all day. It also didn't seem homemade, which is upsetting when you're supposedly eating at a "fine dining" ITALIAN establishment. Conversely though for an appetizer we ordered the octopus-grapefruit-frisee-candied walnut salad which was easily the silver lining of the whole evening. The octopus was tender, not at all overcooked, and the salad was fresh and acidic. It probably could've used for some extra fat to cut the sourness (like some sort of cheese), but that's being picky. This appetizer was hands down the best part of the meal by 1,000,000 miles. For dinner, we had the salmon and coravina fish specials. The salmon was served with a spicy red wine tomato sauce, and the coravina came with a burnt-lemon kalamata olive artichoke sauce. Although both dishes were plated very rustically (which was a nice change of pace), both fish were so dry and overcooked that I simply have no words. I could not cut through my friend's coravina with a fork alone. I needed to use a knife to get through it, and when I tried to swallow it I had to chew it like bubble gum so it would actually go down my throat. When paired with the overly salty lemon sauce and cheap vegetable medley on the side, I knew there'd be no saving this train wreck. The highlight of the entrees was definitely the red wine spicy red sauce with the salmon, which was also overcooked, but thankfully not quite to the disastrous level of the coravina. For dessert, we shared a slice of their double chocolate mousse entremet. I have to say it was OK, but the chocolate flavor was very mild (note: not subtle - it was mild. There is a difference.). I had some hopes since the desserts looked homemade, but I'm sad to say it also ultimately fell flat for me. After this circus of failures and mishaps, we were finally faced with a $105 dollar bill for an appetizer, two glasses of wine, two entrees, and a dessert. Absolutely unbelievable for the horrifically poor quality of food we received (barring the octopus). I would not wish this food on my worst enemy. Two out of five stars, ONLY because of the lovely owners. Based on the food alone, my presence will never be seen here again. Even now, I'm still shaking my head in disbelief and will caution all of my friends to run away as far as they can should they ever consider dining here.

Very cozy intimate restaurant; the customer service is truly outstanding. Was taken here last night and had a very memorable dining experience. I think reservations are pretty much a must on a weekend night. There is a main dining room that has maybe 7 tables and then an adjoining room as well that has more but overall its a smaller restaurant. For starters we had these awesome marinated shrimp skewers. The kick was that the "skewer" was a rosemary branch. This was very clever I thought, and the flavors were amazing. I went with the veal chop special, as I'm not into seafood at all. The dish was exceptional as far as presentation, flavor, texture, was cooked exactly as I requested. I think Lucano is really known for their seafood as evidenced by the long list of fresh catch specials recited by our waitress. Would definitely recommend this place for a special occasion.It is a bit of an older crowd here which can be a welcome change from the noise of many other restaurants.

Absolutely amazing meal and fantastic service. Our party of 6 came in tonight - everything was phenomenal. My veal with cognac cream sauce dish was incredible, as was the burrata appetizer. The calamari was fresh and delicious. Our deserts (the peanut butter bomb and the almond cake, for example) were also incredible.

I visited Ristorante Lucano on a Saturday night and needed to make reservations, as they were nearly booked. Nestled in a strip plaza at East and Winton, this intimate restaurant is a hidden delight. We were able to find parking outside of the restaurant, but the hostess also noted that there was overflow parking available at the church next door when we made our reservation. The owners greeted us upon arrival, and the staff was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. To start, we had the "Fave e Verdura" which was as large as an entrée with perfectly cooked fave beans and greens and just the right amount garlic. For our main courses, we had the "Pappardelle alla Montanara" with generous amounts of homemade sausage and diced eggplant and the "Bucatini all 'amatriciana" with thick spaghetti and white onions that gave the red sauce a mildly sweet taste. Both were delicious, and we had plenty of leftovers. Although the menu was a bit pricy for pasta, it was a wonderful experience.

Simply incredible. From the clams in a tomato base, to calamari, to pear and walnut salad, to sword fish...all topped with an almond coconut cake, accompanied by a Vera mobile montepulciano red wine...just spectacular. Great service as well! (Ask for Kayla!)

If you've just returned from Italia and are looking for a similar meal, this is the place for you. A fantastic meal following the courses you'd find in Napoli, Genoa or Roma. You'll pay more than one of the 2nd generation Italian-American family restaurants on the westside, but you'll get the authentic tastes of Italy. Highly recommend their 'sampler' antipasti called, Affettato misto lucano, very similar to what you'll find near the docks in old Napoli.