Luce Bar & Kitchen

New favorite is the steak special. Cooked perfectly every time we go. Steak dish comes with twice baked potatoes and carrots. Another favorite is the salmon dish. Other places the salmon skin is soggy but here it is crispy and delicious. The curry sauce that comes with the salmon dish is a bit spicy so I always ask for it on the side. Margarita pizza, beet salad and Tuna melt is pretty good too. Drinks are fun and yummy. Fast and Friendly staff. Definitely a repeat favorite place to eat!

A Bay Park neighborhood staple. Instead of trying to do everything, Luce focuses on a consistent, well-curated menu, and they do it right. You can’t go wrong with any of their dishes. The atmosphere is lively and social, ideal for everything from casual dinners to catching up with friends. The staff works hard to take care of their guests, and the low turnover suggests the family-run business values its team just as much as its customers. Warm, reliable, and rooted in quality.

A small place that is big with great food, atmosphere, and service. Our party showed up and was seated immediately by an attentive employee. The server greeted us and asked if we were comfortable and needed anything right away. He explained a few answers to some questions we had about the menu. He made us feel comfortable. He came back in a bit and took our orders. The food arrived very quickly. We ordered a variety of food. It was all delicious. Our refills were filled when needed. After we finished, he cleared our empty plates very quickly. After, I stepped up to the bar and asked some questions about a certain type of whiskey that was on hand. The first bartender was not sure what was available and referred me to another bartender with more knowledge of what they served. She listed 4-5 types of Rye whiskies. I was thankful for her response. I went back to my party. We sat and talked more. The server was still attentive to our party. Great service. I fully recommend this restaurant if you want a great meal with an awesome atmosphere for feeling comfortable. We will return. .

Luce Bar & Kitchen is a true neighborhood gem that’s well worth the visit! From the moment you walk in, you can feel the lively energy of the space. It’s always buzzing with people, creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The decor is modern yet cozy, setting the perfect backdrop for a great dining experience. One thing to note—this place is always super busy, so it’s best to plan ahead! Parking can be a bit of a challenge since there isn’t dedicated parking, and finding a spot nearby can take some patience. However, once you make it inside, all the hassle becomes an afterthought because the experience is absolutely worth it. The menu at Luce Bar & Kitchen is fantastic, offering a great variety of dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty meal or lighter fare, they have something for everyone. The drinks are equally impressive, with creative cocktails that pair beautifully with the food. The staff is attentive and friendly, making sure every visit is enjoyable from start to finish. Overall, Luce Bar & Kitchen is a spot I keep coming back to. The combination of excellent food, great service, and a lively atmosphere make it a standout in the area. If you’re willing to tackle the parking situation, you’re in for a truly memorable dining experience!

Luce Bar & Kitchen in Bay Park strikes the perfect balance—offering a generous dish selection without sending diners into an existential crisis over too many choices. Whether you opt for indoor dining or the patio, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. And if you like a side of socializing with your meal, the bar area is ready to serve up good drinks and even better conversations. The service is top-notch, and the food? The tuna crab melt is so good it might ruin all other sandwiches for you. Just be warned: parking can be a bit of an adventure—think of it as the appetizer before your meal. Overall, Luce Bar & Kitchen delivers on great food, a lively atmosphere, and solid service. Just be sure to arrive with parking-warrior energy and an appetite for something delicious.

The service here was attentive even though they had a private event and were busy! The elote was packed with flavor and enough to share between 2-4 people! The carnitas tacos were phenomenal, the meat had such good flavor and their guac was really good - highly recommend this dish. If you go around sunset time you might be able to have a sneak peek of it, but the trees do cover it. They don’t take reservations so I suggest you go around 10-20 minutes before you want to dine.

What a gem of a neighborhood bar and restaurant! Whether it’s grabbing a drink, enjoying a meal, or hosting a group celebration, Luce never disappoints. We love catching our favorite sports teams here on the weekends, and I also host several business lunches each month—it’s that versatile and welcoming. Last night, after enduring an hour of being ignored at another restaurant (despite a reservation), we decided to cut our losses and head straight to the one place we knew could save the evening—Luce! The moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly by the managing owner, Sal, and seated immediately. Within five minutes, we had drinks in hand, and not long after, we were savoring some of San Diego’s best dishes. The Margherita Pizza is a standout favorite, but honestly, the entire menu is a delight. The vibe at Luce is unmatched—perfect for a night out with friends, a romantic date, or even a private event on their enclosed upper patio. Thank you, Luce, for rescuing our evening and continuing to be a place we can always count on. Love the staff, service and vibe here. You’re not just a restaurant; you’re a trusted neighborhood friend!

Great local restaurant that always provides everything you want, good food, good service, and good atmosphere!

Thanks to my Clairemont-native coworker for hyping this place up--the hype is real. Located on the same street as Siesels Meat & Deli, Baci's, and Bay Park Fish Co., Luce's has a great tavern-like atmosphere. There is ample seating and even a back patio area with a bunch of a heated lamps, "fire pit" table side and a beautifully painted mural. I ordered the Honey Pie ($25) sopressatta+pepperoni+burrata+calabrese hot honey+mozzarella+red sauce. 10/10!!! The quality of meat & cheeses are great, and the "hot honey" is surprisingly not too spicy. It has a little kick but the sweetness of the honey rounds out the flavor. Job well done, Luce's! Can't wait to come back to try more menu items.

I had been wanting to check out Luce for quite some time, as I have been to several other businesses nearby. Recently, a friend and I met for dinner on a weeknight. We met around 6:30 and the place was packed, but there were a few open tables. We checked in and they asked us to take our table of choice. Anyway, we sat down. Despite the crowd, the table was spacious, though it was slightly loud and it took a few minutes for us to get acclimated to the atmosphere in order to be able to have a conversation. Luce is not a fancy place at all, but they have some of the best service around. They checked on us several times throughout, but in a very unobtrusive fashion. Throughout our dinner, our water glasses were never empty, and they came readily to check on our wine. The menu looked amazing. I had several options in mind. I saw some of the amazing looking salads being passed to the other tables, and was happy to be able to order my crab and tuna melt with a side salad. My friend enjoyed her salmon with a side salad as well. I had the opportunity to taste her Salomon and it was amazing They had a great wine list, and I had several options in mind. Both of us tried a couple different wines. All in all, we had a great meal with attentive service at Luce. I would like to go more often, and I am definitely interested in the happy hour offerings.

We came right at dinner time and it was fully packed. While waiting for our table, we ordered the drinks from the bar. We were able to get a table in less than 10 mins and they brought the drinks over to us. The service was great. While it was busy, our server was attentive to us. We ordered the following: 1. House cut fries 2. Roasted beet salad 3. Honey pie 4. Serrano-Rita The food and drinks were really good. Everything went well with each other. You get a sense of a neighborhood vibe. There are TVs to watch games on as well. Parking can be difficult. There is a valet option otherwise it is street parking.

Great fries and nice people. Big menu with 4 big screen TV's, plenty of parking too. Easy on the wallet and clean.

Celebrated my Daughter's Birthday and she requested mussels in broth. Luce is the place to go. We use to come here pre covid and it was our favorite. We were not disappointed! We were seated quickly and sat in the open covered area. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Manager sat us quickly and was very friendly. I let them know we were celebrating her Birthday. We ordered the mussels in broth it comes with 3 slices of toasted buttered baguette . Toasted to perfection. The bowl is a perfect size. Listed in the appetizer menu it is a meal by itself. The broth was so flavorful with every bite. The broth had a rich, savory flavor that lingered on the palate. The mussels were exactly as we remembered. Absolutely delicious. The tomato and garlic, onion & white wine Full of pleasant and distinct flavors. I love the generous amount of broth they serve too. We also ordered drinks. I had the strawberry mule and my Daughter had the dark & stormy. Each drink was so refreshing and complimented our dish. Our server was very attentive and friendly. I wish I had got her name but thank you for your great service. She surprised my Daughter with an ice cream sandwich with vanilla gelato ice cream and candle. It was perfect! We loved it. Luce is a must try they have appetizers, entrees and salads to fit your need. A nice drink menu with well, mixed and IPA beers. A must try if in the Morena boulevard area for sure.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego! The chicken piccata sandwich is my holy grail. My only complaint is sometimes the amount of chicken on the sandwich changes which is odd. Most times it's two cutlets and sometimes it's one, just odd that it varies! I also love their salmon tacos! But regardless this whole menu is stellar and the service is wonderful. It's the place I take most people who come to visit me, something good for everyone!

Back after 7 years! My now husband and I first visited Luce when we were dating for our very first weekend getaway together. This visit was pretty nostalgic for us. We happened to be heading home after a day in SD and realized they were still open. Popped in for dinner, a drink, and some good old reminiscing. It was and quiet. Sunday evening crowd was calm. Open windows let a cool breeze in while we dined. Staff was as friendly and attentive as we remembered. We had brunch the first time we came so the menu was completely different. Our dinner order included: -House made Spaghettoni (so freakin good) -Serrano-Rita (spicy marg) -Fried chicken piccata sandwich (served with fries) -Strawberry mule Wish we had more time to sit and enjoy the space and draft beers. Guess we'll just have to make another trip in the near future.

First time here and I was a big fan! We ordered fries and the cauliflower for an app and then I got the lamb tacos with side salad for dinner. Lamb was cooked perfect! The inside of the restaurant was a vibe and it just was the perfect place to go get a meal after a long work day. I can't wait to go back and try other menu items

We went on a Thursday and did not expect it to be busy but that is always a great sign! We waited less than 5 minutes to be seated! It was our first time there and it did not disappoint! The menu is easy to understand and I wanted to try it all! We decided to do the beef carpaccio and steamed mussels as an appetizer. For our main meals we ordered the pisano pizza, salmon tacos and lamb barbacoa tacos. The appetizers were good but in my opinion the star of the meal were the lamb barbacoa tacos! The plate comes with and option of fries or salad, go with the salad! It is delicious. The vinaigrette is just enough where it doesn't overpower the salad. The lamb was cooked perfectly and my favorite part was the spicy kick! Although the place was busy, our server was very attentive. She checked in with us to make sure everything was ok through out the meal. If you are in the area stop by! You will not be disappointed.

We were in the neighborhood looking for flooring and saw Luce Bar & Kitchen. It had good reviews, so we decided to give them a try. As we entered the front door, we were quickly greeted instructed to sit anywhere we'd like. The bartender came to give us waters and menus to look over. We decided on the fried chicken sandwich and the cheeseburger. My friend said the chicken sandwich was tasty but too much breading. My burger was delicious. We both enjoyed our crispy fries! They have this housemade aioli garlic dipping sauce is DELICIOUS!!! Warning! It is very garlicky!! I loved it!!! Our service was on point. The place is industrial yet a sports bar. It looks like a ton of regulars. The bathrooms were clean. They do have a small parking lot in back or street parking! We came back a second time in one week. My pizza was excellent. A little oily. My friend had the meatball sandwich and the tacos. Overall, a nice place to sit back and enjoy your meals with friends.

The carnitas tacos are really good and I love the french fries, especially with the white dipping sauce! The staff is very friendly too! It's a neighborhood favorite place to go!

I enjoyed my dinner at Luce. They boast a drink and dinner menu that will please anyone. You have to try the fries and the honey hot pizza. The service was amazing. It kinda gets crowded so good to make a reservation here. Space has indoor and outdoor.

love luce- not your typical brunch! they have alot of unique fusion items which i love! we got fries and mushrooms to start that were both fried to perfection! We also got the pistachio French toast, which was quite literally the best bite I've ever had. We also got a kimchi fried rice with the poached egg on top and the yolk all over. It was just perfect texture. I also love the service and vibes. It's super laid-back but good food. I also got to bring my dogs, which is always a plus. Definitely left in a food coma, so I like the location because you can just drive over to Mission Bay and get your steps in w a pretty view!

Good food and nice service. Ordered the honey hot pizza and the chicken sandwich. Surprisingly I enjoyed the sandwich more! Maybe I preferred more savory. Both were great though. Came in last minute, no reservation and they were able to seat us right away. Only downside was my water was never refilled and the water bottle they gave was empty. Asked and by the time we got another bottle, was pretty much done eating

First visit for me with a friend who prefers lunch, I prefer brunch. Here we both had options, we shared the mushroom appetizer, I had Carnitas Eggs Benedict and he had a Burger with a side salad. Food and Service were excellent, quiet enough to hear your conversation with others having their own on all sides of you. Don't forget to stop by Siesel's on your way out.

Beet salad with golden beets Delicious with lots of goat cheese to dip in. Yummy dressing and fresh greens!! Awesome

I came here for dinner with my friend. We didn't have reservations but got seated right away. The service was great, the waitress was really helpful in explaining each dish for us. We ordered the fried brussel sprouts (5/5). This was so good, my favorite dish. It was perfectly crispy and the dressing was great. Definitely try this dish if you are dining here. Margherita pizza (4/5): this was a nice thin-crusted pizza. The portion was huge and the sauce to dough ratio was perfect. The dough could've been a bit fluffier but overall, it was a great pizza. Rigatoni pasta (3/5): This dish was okay. I liked the pasta, but I wasn't a big fan of the sauce. House cut fries (4/5): The house fries were good, they are thick and fluffy inside. I like my fries skinny and crispy. Though I did really like the truffle sauce. Overall, it was a lovely evening here. There's also a bar area inside the restaurant and outdoor seating.

Big fan. The food is great. The drinks hit the spot. And the BBQ sauce is homemade! I've been many times. I recommend everything. I usually get the burger with extra bbq sauce. Breakfast pizza is great for brunch but truely everything on the menu is splendid. The parking can be moderately difficult. The lot fills up so you'll have to look in the neighborhood. The servers are friendly and I've never had trouble getting a table even when it's busy.

Came and got the hot honey pizza and beer this time instead of a cocktail. Absolute perfect combo. Delish. Chefs kiss. Parking can be annoying but it's worth it everytime.

Food was amazing & the service too! The acoustics are tough, especially in a large group it was hard to hear someone a few seats away. We had a great time for our networking meet up. I had the lamb tacos and a delicious salad that they tossed for me in ranch. Yum!

Luce has good selection of different American Faire, including catch of the day, sandwiches, burgers, and pappardelle with short rib sauce (yum). The food portions were large. Service was excellent. They have a full bar with a nice selection of Craft Beers and decent wines. It must be a neighborhood restaurant. It did get very crowded and loud. Two things to consider: Parking can be difficult and bring a jacket (doors and windows are opened). Definitely would recommend and return!

The food was ok, I have an issue with the female waiter she was rude and she barely checked on us she even decided to give herself a 50$ tip without telling us plus we have her an additional tip the service overall was not good.

Great food always! Glad to see that the quality hasn't dropped like most restaurants! Brunch, lunch is amazing the salads the pizzas honestly everything you get will be great

As always, excellent service/delicious food/great ambiance. The servers give great suggestions (and not just to upsell) while being spot on foodies.

This place has great energy! Our server seemed a bit new and missed some opportunities to make things right (something was wrong with my Coke and efforts to correct were minimal at best). The food was good! We had the chef's pizza with hot honey mustard and a lovely soft crust, as well as the beef cheek ravioli with crispy onion. I didn't care for that dish as much as I'd hoped - I found the onions a bit too strong and the sauce a bit too weak and thin, but I'm glad we tried it and we did finish it off! The pizza was delicious!

Great service. Great food friendly staff Definitely coming back here we had 8 in our party and everyone loved this place

Love this place! Found it by happenstance driving by that time tried a pizza next time tried a burger grabbed a pizza and burger patty for my frenchies. Top notch spot, service ambiance and food all amazing!!

I had came here on a Saturday morning when it had opened. There was no line and no we were seated right away. I had ordered the chilaquiles which was extremely good. The chips were not soggy and they had very good flavor that match well with the carnitas. In addition they have a courtyard that is perfect for a date night! I would recommend this spot!

I love Luce !! I love the Paisano pizza and the white pie and the house salad and the fries are always my go to ! Any pastas at the chefs put out are truly always incredible. The service is always incredible. I'm friends with all the staff, and they are truly like a family. Always playing the right music and I always feel like family truly such a great ambience. Thank you Sal for running a great restaurant truly the best !!!!!

Great place to grab some good food while watching the game. Had the Margherita pizza and a burger which were good - nothing extraordinary but loved the atmosphere which made it a fun experience

In search of a kid-friendly lunch spot for a party of four (two moms and two 12 year old boys), I found Luce on Yelp... It checked all the boxes as it was close to the nearby San Diego Mission Bay Resort we were going to after lunch for pickle ball, it had a 4.5 star rating, it looked kid friendly, and appeared to have something for everyone on the menu. We found it easy enough, parked in their private lot, and walked in to get seated right away on a Sunday just after noon. Service was friendly and attentive and the vibe was chill and breezy due to the open air windows. The food was great too... I took our server's rec and had the tuna crab sandwich with avocado - highly recommend! My friend had a pizza, my son had scrambled eggs, toast and bacon, and his friend loved the breakfast burrito. When we walked out and I *almost* forgot my backpack, one of the staff ran it out to me. Thank you again, Luce... We will be back!

We were staying at Mission Bay Resort and looking for nearby restaurants. Luce Bar & Kitchen was close by, just across the I-5 freeway. Initially, we considered walking, but with a 40-minute estimate, we decided to drive. The restaurant was relatively busy, with a few available tables outside. We were invited to choose any outdoor seating, and they were dog-friendly, even bringing water for our pups, which was very thoughtful. We started with the steamed clams, which were excellent in a flavorful tomato sauce. The quinoa and carrot salad, served with hummus at the bottom, was fresh and delicious. We also had the salmon appetizer with wasabi sauce, which was not too spicy--my son was able to enjoy it. The boys shared carnitas tacos and liked them very much. I tried their strawberry mule, which was refreshing, and they made a virgin mojito for my son, which he loved. We finished our meal with an ice cream sandwich, which was a perfect end to the evening. The ambiance of the place was charming, with a strong local vibe. Thanks to the large open windows, we felt almost as if we were seated indoors, not missing out on the ambiance despite sitting outside.

Amazing, friendly, attentive staff. Great outdoor seating options so we were able to bring our dog. Food and overall ambiance was excellent.

My wife and I were on a short vacation to San Diego and I saw in San Diego magazine that Troy Johnson recommended getting the lamb birria tacos at Luce, which is pretty close to the airport and it was definitely lunch time when we landed. I ordered an IPA from our great server from their good sized beer menu, one of two IPAs. They were both delicious. The tacos came out pretty quick with a side salad and Caesar dressing on the side. The meat was so juicy and delicious. Highly recommended, a lot of people were getting the tuna melt, which also looked amazing. I would definitely try that if I returned. The shells held up the moisture well, which is always a plus! I loved that all the windows were open to allow the perfect San Diego weather in. Definite must try if near the airport and in paradise!

We used to live in bay park and this was our go to spot. Always good food and good service. Went here tonight with my sister who had a special request due to dietary reasons. Asked the server if the chicken and arugula salad could be cooked special for us. They said not a problem and nailed it! Rare to have that kind of request honored and done so well. Worth the drive to come back here.

The service here was attentive even though they had a private event and were busy! The elote was packed with flavor and enough to share between 2-4 people! The carnitas tacos were phenomenal, the meat had such good flavor and their guac was really good - highly recommend this dish. If you go around sunset time you might be able to have a sneak peek of it, but the trees do cover it. They don't take reservations so I suggest you go around 10-20 minutes before you want to dine. Valet is $7 or there is street parking (2 hours)

Extremely attentive service, delicious food. It was hard to choose. Everything looked so good but I opted for the chicken piccata sandwich because I've never had such a delight. I had some kind of a mule that was delicious as well fun vibe, I would definitely return!

Every time we have gone it's been amazing! The food & vibes are perfect! Went recently and had a delicious "Honey Pie" Pizza- and some great drinks. The service is always great, and you're always taken care of!

I met a friend at Luce to have lunch and catch up. Cute place, smiley and friendly servers. I ordered the Luce burger (so excited as it had been 2 months since I've treated myself to red meat...) and I have to say it was very average, if that. I found it to be very dry with too much bun and the meat was very bland. I really wanted to like it, but reviews are supposed to be honest..... The fries looked much better than they tasted too, which was disappointing. They were also rather dry and needed a lot of garlic aioli and ketchup to make them taste good. Given all these stellar reviews, maybe I went on an "off" day for the chef. But for the price I paid for this burger, I would not recommend. There are many, many other way better places for burgers in San Diego!

Love this place, seems like the Cheers in Bay Park. Everyone is friendly, amazing food and great drinks. Love the ambiance and its full of locals everyday.

I wish that I could give 4.5 stars. However, please note that I've been to some amazing restaurants so I like to save my 5 stars for the super amazing of those. Luce's is a friendly, neighborhood vibe type of place where even non-neighbors are welcome. We shared the unusual carrot salad and a white pizza. The carrot salad tasted Mediterranean farm to table, with some very fresh, spiced ingredients,quinoa and a layer of hummus on the bottom. The white pizza was thin crusted and cooked perfectly. Yum! Large variety of well priced wines, beers (including a cider) and cocktails. The wine pours were generous. Very good service. Was disappointed that there was no soup available. Wish that we had a Luce in our neighborhood - I would probably be going there every week!

I've never had a bad meal at Luce. The carrot and quinoa salad is so good, and the salmon plate is life changing. Great drinks and ambiance. The service was attentive and very kind.

Came here with a couple friends and let me tell you, service was excellent, from when we walked in until we walked out. Plenty of beers on tap , mixed drinks, and wine too. The food menu is eclectic, definitely something for everyone. We had the BLAT, Chicken Picata sandwich, white pizza, and the Crispy Lasagna, which my husband said "probably the best lasagna I've ever had!". Despite being a busy Friday night we got seated pretty quickly at the last open table I think they had, we got lucky for sure. Indoor and heated patio area. Definitely will be back to try other items on the menu.

Great stop while in SD. Spiritual drinks and flavorful dishes satisfy. While crowded service was swift. The outdoor space was cozy and artistically designed.

Food is so tasty. Everyone enjoyed their food. I wasn't expecting this type of food coming out of a bar kitchen. We ordered the meatball sandwich, tuna/crab melt, beet salad, salmon tacos, carnitas (!!!) tacos, cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, elote, and a burger. The carnitas were legit. Tacos were packed with meat. You couldn't move divvied up the meat and made 4 regular tacos with the meat in 2 tacos. Same with the salmon tacos. The elote was such a surprise. So many wonderful flavors and such a unique way of serving it up. Tuna crab meat was just ok. I got small tastes of crab but mainly it was tuna. Good crunch and not too greasy. Garlic fries were yummy with the aioli dipping sauce Pizzas were thin and piping hot. The burger was also tasty, served on a brioche bun. They were accommodating- no kids menus but listed off things they could make for kiddos. Grilled cheese, buttered noodles, cheese pizza, etc. I would definitely come back for some good food. Service was fast and super friendly. Good place for the whole family, even though it's a bar. ;) Parking can be tricky. Street parking is limited so you may have to venture to residential if it's busy.

So surprised I've never heard of this spot before my friends suggested e we check it out. Got there a little before their brunch was over so got the chance to eat off that menu. It was not crowded at around 1:30 on a Saturday so we were served right away. Service was good-- nothing to note of significance there. The food and drinks came out quickly too. Everyone enjoyed their meal but a few notes-- the bacon was definitely on the burnt side s you can see In that photo. Also, all the breakfast burritos did have great flavor. There were giant chunks of potato in the burrito that made the experience a little difficult to eat. Other than a few notes regarding the food, the experience was really good and I'm interested to try out their dinner menu.

Food is good but a bit pricey. Steamed mussels are amazing and they have great fries. Great place to come and chill. Watch sports or talk with some locals. Service has always been pretty good.

Luce is one of my fave neighborhood spots in all of SD. Vibes are immaculate. Food is bomb. Good drinks and draft list. Family friendly. Lot of TV's and a great firepit on the patio.

Incredible menu. Tried almost every dish because I live nearby. Had a few flukes with the fried chicken sandwich but the salmon has been consistently incredible and paired with any salad! Love the: Beet salad All pizzas (especially the White pie, Pisano & chef's) Burger (so good!) Salmon Fries Tuna melt Lobster pasta dish (new 12/2023)