Lucca Restaurant

Everything from the bread to appetizers to the entrees was well made. If the bread was warmer, it would’ve been even better! I’d have preferred the salmon to be slightly less cooked through, but my friends were all happy with their dishes. The fettuccini with Maine lobster was the winner!

The grilled lamb chop was delicious and of very high quality, and the local oysters were so good and fresh. I was also surprised to have a great pint of Guinness in an Italian restaurant. However, the last decaf I ordered was a bit watery without the usual aroma and intensity I'd expect. Also, the layout of the only two single-user restrooms is such that customers cannot form a single queue to wait - rather odd. Nonetheless, we had an enjoyable experience overall.

we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Lucca tonight. we ordered the tenderloin and bolognese- which came out delicious and cooked perfectly. we were very impressed with the organized and speedy service we received. everyone was incredibly nice and attentive! highly highly recommend this location for dinner!!

A delicious pre-show dinner. We enjoyed the burratta special, gnocchi with short rib and the rigatoni bolognese (not pictured). The team was very accommodating although we arrived a little late for our reservation. Server was attentive and there was a a great wine selection!

Real good traditional Italian food and great hand made pasta. Everything we had was top notch and the service was personal and efficient. Great place.

Okay so I went here specifically for the mushroom ravioli. I ended up ordering a meatball appetizer and creme brûlée. Everything came out insanely fast. Mind you, it’s Saturday night. Service was impeccable. And the food was unbelievable. I could have lived off the meatball appetizer. Obviously I love mushroom ravioli and that was incredible. I order creme brûlée almost anytime it’s on the menu and this place had the best I’ve ever had.

So…wanted to give this place a second shot because the first time I really enjoyed myself and the drinks. This time, we sat upstairs (nice touch), but the service and atmosphere lacked ambience and presented mediocre. I wouldn’t say this is a place for a night out with the girls. Food-wise: it’s pretty decent. The hummus pesto was awesome but my friend Carrie a nnn said the calamari can kick rocks because it’s not fried. But honestly, I agree with her on this one. the bolognese was delicious and I wish we did seconds. Justin the best waiter

I had the privilege to visit Lucca on a work trip. We had a large group and did not hold back on apps, drinks, and entrees. The calamari was pretty awesome, and my salmon was amazing with the crispy skin and lentils. We had hummus and bread. My coworkers had the lobster ravioli, which looked like a work of art. The atmosphere was dimly lit and very inviting.

It was a pretty easy reservation and a cute romantic ambiance in the restaurant. Our server, Danielle, was amazing and great, accommodating all our needs. We ordered the Meatball, which was amazing! I loved the ricotta cheese on top of the red sauce. The Orecchiette is great for those who like a creamier white sauce type pasta and the Shrimp Fra Diavolo was so perfect!! It was probably my most favorite dish. The perfect amount of spice in the sauce. All the pasta was homemade which made it even better in taste! The watermelon salad was a special dish and tasted great but I'm not sure if it was worth the price for it. The complimentary chickpea pesto was a good idea but I also think it's an acquired tasting since it only tasted like chickpea... no other flavor and you couldn't taste the "pesto" in the dip. Lastly, the Flan was not worth it. It was too dense and did not have much flavor to it at all. I'd suggest another dessert dish if you're up for it. Overall, it was a great experience and would have loved to sit by the open window. Maybe next time I come!!

the ambience inside is romantic- darkly lit and intimate but compared to other restaurants I have tried in the north end for italian food, this one was just ok. that being said I did love the seafood based dish that I got - creamy and decadent and went delightfully with the grilled bread on top. pesto was good but overall a little oily - basil taste could be stronger. pasta felt homemade though and had wonderful chew. service friendly! but food did come out a little bit slow... desserts were just ok to be honest...the tiramisu felt a little bitter but the plating was nice!

From start to finish best place in the North End! Food is outstanding, service was impeccable and we just love the tables by the windows! The pastas are fabulous! Top favorites are the ragu, bolognese and ravioli. Without a doubt, the meatballs are the best! We love the wine selections too! Can't go wrong with any selection on the menu. This place is a must! It is our favorite place in Boston!!

Solid pasta dishes, loud at dinner rush but quiets down as the night grows older. Service is excellent. Definitely worth a trip.

I was looking to sit at a bar in the North End for a great cocktail and meal while traveling solo for business. It delivered everything I was hoping. Busy , but I was able to find a seat quickly. Food was fantastic. I was debating between two pastas and the bartender suggested getting a 1/2 order of both. Pastas tasted homemade and like the chef truly cared about what they were putting out to the customers. The cocktails were delicious too. I highly recommend.

Service was great considering it was mobbed. We were there in a large group of about 30 people, so we didn't have the regular menu for us; only 3 choices for entrees. They started with wonderful fresh focaccia bread and pesto. The pesto was very smooth, but not much flavor. The salumi they brought out with 3 meats and I'm assuming a version of bruschetta was amazing! As much as I wanted to try their Caeser salad,y husband and I both chose the lobster bisque. I love a bisque with chunks, but this was smooth and soooo delicious. I chose the chicken under a brick with risotto. The chicken was very dry, but the risotto was the best I've ever had. My husband had the cheese ravioli with arugula pesto and toasted pepitas. They were ok. I personally wasn't crazy about the pesto, but the ravioli was nice. I chose the chocolate torte that I didn't even try because i don't like coffee flavor, but took home for my husband. My husband had the tiramisu and was in love. I may not have been overwhelmed, but like I said, choices were limited to things I wouldn't have ordered and it was a really big group and they were very on top of everything!

I got the fresh rigatoni bolognese and the chicken piccata pappardelle, and they both had great flavors and pasta texture! Your meal also comes with fresh focaccia bread and pesto! Restaurant was busy so a reservation would be recommended.

Great little place in Boston. We lucked out and had a friend who knew the owner so we were able to get a last minute table for 7 at dinner rush. This food was spectacular! Highly recommend!

This restaurant was recommended to me and my family by the concierge at the nearby Battery Wharf hotel. The waitress told us the appetizers were a good size for two people to share, but they came a bit bigger than we expected. The Octopus was great and served with potatoes in a tomato sauce. The Arugula Salad was kind of bare. The apples in the salad were candied and tasted like apple pie, but there were only a few pecans and a couple very thin radish slices. I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese but subbed gluten free pasta (they just have penne for GF). It was kind of creamy and pretty good. My parents liked the Scallops and raved about the mushrooms. We almost ordered an additional side of mushrooms but were too full. My boyfriend got the Boar Ragu, and my sister got the Short Rib Gnocchi, and they both enjoyed their dishes. We are pretty late, around 9:30pm, in the second dining room. The noise level was low despite tables being pretty full. Around 10:30 they dimmed the lights more. The main room where you first enter was dark and louder, because folks were watching the basketball game.

Tough to find a space in the north end for a party of 10 and additionally didn't have to do a pre-fixe menu. We were seated downstairs We did family style for the party so was able to enjoy everything. Favorites of the night were: - really really good pork and veal meatballs - octopus - rigatoni bolognese - a MUST - 4-cheese ravioli Service was great, food and wine was delicious. Thoroughly satisfied

Absolutely terrific food! Awesome service. To my surprise they brought out a tiramisu cake for my birthday, no charge. This was a great find

Very beautiful, higher end Italian restaurant in the Northend. Not your typical pasta dishes. The food was delicious, service a little slow- but it was a busy Friday night. On the pricey end, but worth a nice dinner. Fresh bread , with a delicious plate of oil and pesto. The charcuterie- if you want meat and cheese - specify. We ended up ordering one of each- after only meat came out.

Number one rave review: Service!! Excellent customer service by our waiter, even though we were only stopping in for drinks! We ended up with a couple of rounds each, and it was probably due to our amazing server. We had just stopped off at Mike's for some (amazingly delicious) pastries, and we were on our way over to Union Oyster House for dinner. But, we were very early, and as our hotel was miles away, we weren't about to go back just to turn right around again. Long story, but cutting to the chase, we decided to rest our feet and refresh ourselves at Lucca with some cocktails before dinner. Oh man... what an experience. First of all, our server offered to hold our pastry boxes in the refrigerator while we rested. This not only kept our table space free, but it kept the cannolis (et cetera) chilled until we headed out. Very thoughtful! Second, the drinks themselves! The cocktails were inventive and very tasty. We ordered off their menu instead of your standard fare which you can get anywhere, and we were not disappointed. Everyone had two tasty beverages that were enjoyed universally! Third, the décor in the place was really nice. It was dimly lit, but that led to a cozy feel. Yes, we needed our phone lights to read the menu, but chalk that one up to a day outside walking all over Boston and tired eyes. So, between the service, the cocktails, the location, and the ambiance, we were very happy with our 'pit stop' on the way to dinner. We did see some of the entrees going to tables that evening, and they all looked and smelled amazing. In hindsight, we wish we'd stopped here to eat one of the days we were in town! Next time, Lucca... next time. Overall, definitely worth visiting if you're in town and doing the tourist thing, or probably even if you are a local. The drinks and the service alone were well worth stopping in for. I would return in a heartbeat if we're ever in town there again!

I visited Lucca for dinner this past weekend and was surprised at how busy it was. I'd suggest making a reservation if you have a larger party. Loved the atmosphere and energy of the staff. The complementary appetizer was bread and a pesto based butter. For my entree I got the shrimp linguine; but the star of the show was the creme brûlée I ordered for dessert!

Excellent Italian food. I can't wait to go back so I can try more things. Meatballs were amazing! Pasta with white wine sauce, chicken, and spinach . What more could you ask for??

Amazing everything. Truly an experience. Great service from Bill. Food is big portions and very hearty. Lob ravioli very solid. Great place for dinner.

Really elegant dining room with lots of renaissance artwork. Friendly staff. Our food was generally very good but lacked consistency. --The free bread course was a thick piece of focaccia which lacked crispiness or flavor, served with an unappealing pesto hummus --Caesar salad was very good, with a tangy and creamy dressing though the croutons were a bit stale --Branzino was incredibly good, crispy, buttery, piping hot, served with a red pepper infused sauce and surrounded by potatoes, capers, cherry tomatoes --Garganelli pasta (similar to penne, a rolled tubular pasta) with wild boar ragu was rich and very good but served luckwarm --My 4 cheese ravioli with cauliflower and squash was bland and served at room temperature We asked that the two cold dishes be heated and that took a long time, we were told they were making new dishes for us, but when they arrived they were about the same temp as before. We also ordered a nice bottle of Ponzi Pinot Noir. Overall a nice evening but some issues here and there. We will likely return though.

My wife and I stopped here before a show at TD Garden. We were running a little late, but the restaurant was very accommodating. We still got a great table by a window. I will say the restaurant is very loud, but we were seated away from the main dining room noise. Food was good. We ordered tuna tartare, mussels, salmon and shrimp scampi for our main. Our waitress was very helpful with drink recommendations. Overall very good dining experience.

Excellent service and food. Meatball appetizer and sirloin were fantastic. Super tender tenderloin. Vegetables were not overdone and grilled. Crowded for a weeknight - so suggest reservations.

Good things to highlight are the ambiance and restaurant timings. Service was ok but they overcharged me on the bill and didn't revert to emails asking for the receipt. Also were rude on the phone when asked to send the receipt and asked me to email them. Fishy!? The person waiting also did not fully know about the menu which is not a biggie but not something you look for in a well-known restaurant. Not going again, but you make your own decision.

My experience at this establishment was rather disappointing. Despite the fairly pleasant decor, the overall quality of the service fell short of expectations. The place itself had a grubby feel, which was quite off-putting. One of the main issues I encountered was the portion sizes. For the price of £30, I was expecting a more substantial meal. However, the portions provided were surprisingly small, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and questioning the value for money. The specific dish that stood out as particularly disappointing was the Bolognese. It was simply rubbish. The flavours were bland, lacking the depth and richness that one would expect from a classic Bolognese sauce. Furthermore, the pasta accompanying it was far from al dente, instead being overly chewy. This further diminished the overall enjoyment of the meal. Considering the subpar quality of the food and the portion sizes, it felt like a rip-off. The prices did not align with the quality or quantity of the dishes served. It's unfortunate that the nicely decorated ambiance did not make up for the shortcomings in the food and service. Overall, I left this establishment with a feeling of dissatisfaction. While the place may have had some positive aspects in terms of decor, the poor quality of the food, small portion sizes, and the feeling of being overcharged left a negative impression. I would not recommend this place based on my experience.

Amazing space! Great atmosphere, amazing food. A little pushy to sell the wine, but hey, I bought some in the end, so clearly they're doing something right!

Highly recommend the espresso martini, cheesy garlic bread, and rigatoni with beef! Such a delicious meal, very filling portions and a really great authentic Italian meal. I don't usually like espresso martinis with Irish cream but this one tasted like tiramisu in a drink and was to die for.

The garlic and mozzarella bread that I'm still dreaming about years later! Perfection!!

I came here with my mother and my godfather. Our waiter, Billy, was really nice and we had a good conversation about the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. My mom got the peach bellini martini, and she thought it was the best drink she had in Massachussetts. We ordered the cheese plate to start which was fantastic, I loved everything on it except the goat cheese though I tend not to like goat cheese in general. For dinner our party ordered the shrimp scampi, the halibut, and the scallops. The shrimp scampi was "wonderfully seasoned and tasted delightful" in the words of my mother. The halibut was "moist, flavorful, well-seasoned, peppery, and not over cooked" in the words of my godfather. I personally had the scallops and they were fantastic. I love when you can really taste that essence of the sea in seafood, that's how you know it's good. The bacon with it was delicious, and the sauce is a beautiful addition. The restaraunt is a little loud but we got there early so it was fairly quiet for most of our visit. A great place to come by if you're in the area with delicious food.

Sharing my experience as I was underwhelmed by the food here, especially since it is rated so highly on Yelp so I had higher expectations. We had a meal as part of a work event in the private room. Not sure if our table was an after-thought for the kitchen, but there was nearly a 1-hour gap between us finishing our appetizers and receiving our main course. The food was also not as great as you would expect based on the high ratings. Calamari appetizer - probably the best part of the dinner. Nice sauce, hot dish, tasty and fresh calamari of which there was a lot. Orecchiette - good pasta dish with nice flavor and well-cooked pasta with good texture. Not out of this world delicious or memorable but it was tasty. Salmon - shared this dish with my co-worker (who also had half of my orecchiette). The salmon was painfully overcooked. Interestingly, my other co-worker's order was mixed up (she had ordered salmon but the pasta was brought), and the salmon they quickly fired for her was cooked very well. Tiramisu was delicious! Chocolate cake not so much - somewhat firm and dry, not rich at all. Definitely would be open to trying here again as a smaller group and in a social setting, maybe the quality would be slightly higher.

On a busy Saturday night we found ourselves at Lucca's! Overall the food was good! Started with Gnocchi and it had great flavor with Braised beef was very tender and delicious but overall the dish was more sauce then it was food. But it was still good! Then for dinner I got Chicken Piccata which was really good some great flavor with a nice kick of lemon as an after taste! Very smooth taste and texture! For dessert we tried Panna Cotta never had that before and it was defiantly very interesting the sweet syrup was very tasty and fresh tasting but the actual dessert was kind of bland. Not much flavor. Not bad just not that good. Overall great place would go again and the service was very quick and kind!

What is this place not doing right?? Probably now one of my top two favorite spots in the north end. Everything I had was so tasty and amazing. I highly recommend the steak with risotto AND get the cheesy garlic bread, it's a must. Also the desserts are amazing as well, I had the tiramisu and the flourless chocolate cake

Best service I have had in a long time dining out. Thank you to our server George! Delicious food , but not many vegetarian options . I got the mussels. There is plenty of seating but it was busy so we had reservations.

Delicious food but limited menu. Great staff and service. Drinks were amazing! Ambiance was mid

We've been coming to Lucca for a long time, it is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in the North End. From their familial style interior, the delectably delicious plates and wonderful cocktails, to the incredible staff, what's not to love? Last night, our bartender, Casey, gave us some fun with an adult themed coloring book while we enjoyed some pre dinner cocktails, and let me tell you, it's a fun way to keep a group entertained! Enjoy!

We had dinner at Lucca Restaurant on Hanover Street last night as a Christmas get together. There were 5 of us. We started at the bar where we were greeted by a friendly bar tender. After getting a round of drinks we made our way to our table. We started with a few different appetizers which were all delicious. We got calamari, octopus, cheese and salami plate and the meatballs. For dinner I got the bolognese which was delicious! Portion was good size. The others all enjoyed their meals as well. I highly recommend trying Lucca in the North End We were all happy we did.

I made a reservation at this fine establishment to bring my gf for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. We arrived late, due to the crazy traffic, but were pleased to know our table was not given away. The place was very full and there were two sides of the restaurant with slightly different ambiance but luckily we were seated in the more chill area. Upon arriving, we were given some delicious pesto hummus and restaurant made bread. We had the meatballs and oysters (aphrodisiacs) for appetizers. The meatballs were delicious and rich flavor. The oysters were so fresh especially accompanied by the tasty mignonette. My gf had the shrimp scampi which she enjoyed while I had the Baked Casarecce with lobster as our main dishes. She tried my pasta and loved it and kept calling it decadent. I'd rather call it delicious. It was just so good and they really did put a lot of lobster into this delicious dish. The cocktails were not my favorite but overall it was a great experience.

My friends and I were able to make reservations for 930 pm on a busy Saturday Labor Day weekend. We were punctually seated for our time block. The host informed us that the outdoor seating is only available until 11 pm in which the indoor is available until 2 AM. As with most restaurants in the north, they have the large windows that are open: perfect for the weather last night. Our drinks included moment in thyme, Moscow mule, and Sauvignon blanc. We were all happy with our initial orders we had a second round. For appetizers, we shared the duck confit, the short rib gnocchi, and the calamari which was gluten-free so they served it without the batter. The duck confit had a flaky crust which I did not get to try, but my friends said it was good. The duck itself was tender and flavorful. The short rib was served in a rich marinara sauce with the fluffy gnocchi. The calamari was also served in a similar spicy marinara sauce with some plump tomato and spinach. For entrees, my friends ordered the hanger steak which was also gluten-free so they did not have the string fries served with it. Later on, our server offered the broccolini as an alternative side. Other entrées included the half roasted chicken with risotto, the salmon with fingerling potatoes, and the scallops with arugula and mushrooms. From what I understood, all the proteins were great. Salmon was moist, steak was cooked at a perfect medium as requested, no complaints about the chicken and the scallops were nicely seared however could have used some additional salt. Side dishes were also satisfactory with the alternative broccolini seasoned well, a cheesy and well prepared risotto and the sautéed mushrooms. Overall good experience, but what made it even better was our waiter. He was amiable and personable. Consistently, he checked on us throughout our dinner and he even went out of his way to obtain some extra checks to practice our mental quick tip math. Will definitely come again!

Food was good. 4/5 stars. We had Statler Chicken and Bolognese. However, the attitude at the front desk was atrocious. The hostess (Maeven?) was the type of person that made you feel you shouldn't bother her and your presence was a nuisance. I will not "bother" her any more by going elsewhere.

Beto was absolutely amazing. first time here and we will definitely be back because of him. great bartender

The service is top, drinks are really tasty! Drinking at the bar was really funny and new

Lovely atmosphere and great service. Bread was delicious. Ordered the chicken piccata. Not so good. The chicken was little tiny pieces and very chewy. I expected a piece of boneless breast ??? The dish was very salty. Couldn't eat it. It came out very quickly which is usually not a good sign. Didn't like the meal but paid for it anyway. Was only there for about 45 minutes total. Unlikely we will return. Ended up walking down to Florentine and having a couple of meatballs which were delicious.

I was looking forward to enjoying a night out, but the anticipation of an enjoyable evening was cut short. I've had an excellent experience here before, so when I made my reservations I knew I made the right choice among the dozens of restaurants that line the North End. My guest and I were seated promptly for our reservation but that's as far as the satisfaction went. We ordered Calamari which came out chewy, and garlic cheese bread that didn't come out fully baked. It was still a little doughy and didn't live up to the previous standards (as shown in pics). We ordered the short rib which was also not so impressive, and the Lobster Di Fraviola which was decent enough. Regarding cocktails, the Painkiller wasn't anything special and it had too much ice. Based on this last visit, I won't be returning. My first visit was excellent, my last visit was disappointing.

Omg amazing meal!!! We sat at the window and enjoyed the ambience. Our server, Billy was wonderful and made us feel welcome. He had great recommendations and the food was spectacular. We had the Burrata salad and Caesar salad to start. The burrata was creamy and fresh, the Caesar salad was an oil based, not creamy, which we loved. We had the halibut and pappardelle ragú. The halibut was out of this world, I highly recommend. The pappardelle was a bit thick and a little dry however but still good.

Ordered Chicken Panini with french fries. Really good tasting sandwich . Was hungry . Super tasty .

Billy was the best waiter ever! Had so much fun! Highly recommend the chicken papardelle.

Happened to stumble upon this place at 11PM. Me when and the boyf were starving so we decided to pop in. It was pretty busy for that time of night but we got our food relatively quickly. The menu was a little pricey for the taste of the food. I thought it needed a little more flavor. He seemed to like his salmon though

Absolutely incredible. My boyfriend and I left work supper late on Valentine's Day. We are both servers. It was awesome so leave work and have someone else serve you perfectly. As soon as you walk in, the hosts are welcoming and kind. The food was beautifully presented and the taste was great. The server was kind. He managed his time perfectly. I loved the seasonal sangria!

Came here with high expectations as I had been here 10 yrs prior and it was a memorable place. What a disappointment tonight. Our reservation was honored on time - great. The main section of the restaurant was a zoo. A cacophony from the people hovering around the bar spilling into the dining area. Ugh. Luckily we were seated in a back room which was a tad quieter until the birthday party arrived. But that's not the bad part. We first ordered the "really really good meatballs" and the burrata appetizer. The meatballs were gristly and tough. The burrata was flavorless and needed at least a little salt (we had just had burrata at trade the night before that was fabulous). After the apps were brought out within 5 minutes of our ordering, we asked them to slow things down as we didn't want to be out in 40 minutes without being able to enjoy the bottle of wine we got. They did listen as our entrees came out around 25 minutes later. Ok. On to the mains. We ordered the pappardelle with chicken, the wild boar garganelli and the rigatoni bolognese. I had had the wild boar in my last visit but this bore no resemblance to that dish. The meat totaled many two tablespoons. The pasta was so overcooked it was falling apart. (Bc we asked them to slow down??). And the sauce tasted only of the sweet peppers that were in it. The chicken dish tasted of nothing but capers. The bolognese was the only dish remotely decent. And my son in law (not a chef) makes one that is much better. I was so disappointed as I had good memories of this restaurant. Unfortunately I will never go again.

Very, very good food. Laid back spot. Apps and entrees equally delicious. Crème brûlée a miss but everything else more than made up for it. Wine list is extensive and the markup not massive. Service was good. Highly recommend for good Italian in the north end.

Not expecting such a great experience at an airport restaurant!!! You always approach these with low expectations which may be why I was so blown away. Food portions and quality was excellent- check out the picture! Fresh ingredients and nice presentation. For the price and airport situation, it was well worth it! Our waitress was so nice. She was the only one handling all the tables and she did a great job checking on everyone. If your looking for a good bite to eat that won't take too long or order for take out - go here!

Outstanding food, great atmosphere, service is excellent. Came in last minute after a Bruins game. Defined coming back on a regular schedule!

This was one of the best italian meals i've had in my life! A friend who lives in Boston recommended and this place was absolutely delicious!!! I wish I lived in Boston so I could eat it again. I wish I got our waiters name because he was so nice! The ambiance itself was romantic vibes, would be perfect for a date. The espresso martinis here have to be one of the best I've ever had. I had to get two, they were so yummy! We had oysters and garlic bread, both so good. The garlic bread had cheese in the middle too, so delish! For dinner, we ordered the Lobster Fra Diavolo and Garganelli. Both were SO GOOD. I did not want to stop eating, every bite was just amazing. 11/10 experience and food at Lucca! Highly recommend!

We went here for dinner Sat pm. We had a reservation and were seated right on time. Our server was excellent! She was very attentive to us. We started out with their focaccia bread. Then drinks! We had a dozen oysters, carpaccio and sautéed calamari. Then we split the hanger steak that was cooked exactly the way we wanted it. Everything was superb!