Luce

We learned of this place from some online guides and decided to give it a try. We had two different pastas: the pistou and the fettucini. Both were fantastic. The portions are generous and certainly filling. Everything tasted extremely fresh (because it is) as they are cooked and made when ordered! Side note: I asked about the pesto ingredients as often pesto is made with cashews which I am allergic to. The gentleman who took our order kindly informed us that there are neither cashews or pine nuts in their pesto! Our pastas were neatly packaged in a brown paper bag with napkins and forks, and brought out to us in a very timely manner! We are excited to go back and try more of their pastas and give their pizzas a go.

Look for the yellow door and you’ve made it to the walk-up counter of Luce. On my last visit, they were painfully busy and behind, but - the pasta was fantastic as always. Don’t sleep on the salads. Desserts are ok.

Definitely a gem on Norfolk's restaurant row. Overall I thought our dining experience was great. Seated next to the open kitchen I was able to watch the chef work in harmony with his staff. This is something I really appreciated. For appetizers we started with the Bruschetta and Toasted Bread caprese salad. Overall good dishes our only complaint would be the tomatoes on the Bruschetta were a little seedy and out of season using a small tomato like the salad would be suggested. Also both would have been fantastic with a balsamic glaze drizzle. Our main dishes were the Fish 🐠 of the day which was a halibut with a chutney sauce. My wife thought the chutney was a little over bearing for the dish but that was her personal opinion. My dish was a pasta dish with a Spinach pasta, fish, which was the halibut with a tomato and arugula salad. Personally I thought my fish was a bit overcooked and salty and I thought it had too many tomatoes in the dish. Overall I thought all meals were plated beautifully! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was simple but very pleasing. We will definitely be back again to try some of their other homemade pasta dishes. Highly recommend if you are looking for a nice intimate italian restaurant. Reservations highly suggested!

Pasta was very good for being a takeout spot. I’m a sucker for some good homemade pasta! I would just warn you that it’s the kind of place that may close early sometimes. Definitely the smallest restaurant/hole in the wall I’ve ever experienced. Kinda cool concept though. Took me a few trips there to be able to catch them when they were open. I was not successful in being able to complete order online and they have no phone number. Otherwise it’s great food for the price and friendly service. Don’t skip their cheesecake. It’s really good too with a thick crust.

This place is magical! We got the Cacio e Pepe pasta and Margherita Pizza. 4 stars because I think the food was a little too rich for me- could use a little less butter and salt. The crust of the pizza was perfect and the pasta was al dente. Yum yum!

We were so excited to try Luce for the first time and unfortunately it did not live up to the hype. I got the Cacio and my fiancé got the Fettuccine and we got the garlic bread to share. The Cacio was completely flavorless, greasy, and the noodles were way too thick. It was also impossible to eat in the containers provided, so I poured it onto a plate but it literally looked like a science experiment and hospital food combined. The Fettuccine was slightly better in terms of flavor, but it tasted like mushrooms (which are not part of/included in the dish). On the other hand, the garlic bread was pretty good. Sad to say we won’t be back to Luce.

Amazing food from a very unassuming little kitchen. Staff was very pleasant and food was ready very quickly and it was delicious. Ordering online was very easy. It should be noted that this is a take out only place; there is a window for order and pick up, you wait outside for your food.

Found this place off of Instagram and the pasta looked incredible so had to stop by and give it a shot. Luce does not disappoint! Very short wait after ordering. Served hot and ready to eat while walking downtown. Not too saucy but tons of flavor!

The food is great! I ordered the fettuccine and really liked it, but I was disappointed when I saw there were only two meatballs. It's also a bit pricey for the amount of food you get. I'm glad I tried it though bc it was delish! The service was quick, which is great since the location feels a little sketchy. For those that don't know, Luce is just a window that you order at, so all meals are to-go.

This was probably the worst Italian food I have ever had. I have had crispier pizza from a microwave. The dough was under cooked and sopping wet. The entire meal was completely devoid of anything resembling flavor. The pasta was watery and tasted of nothing. I was so excited to try this place, but honestly it was incredibly bad. I have had jars pasta sauces with more flavor. Completely not worth it an was severely disappointed.

Luce never misses! Possibly my favorite place to eat in all of Charlottesville. Easy to-go pasta made fresh and fast in a literal hole in the wall. They only have a few items on their rotating menu but they really shine on each of them -- pastas, pizzas, salads, desserts. I especially enjoy The Bolo pasta (pappardelle, ragu, topped with parmesan and bread crumbs). Simply the best!

Great pasta place. I walked up, ordered and got my food to go. No fuss, no muss. Pasta and sauce came in a 16oz cup. I opened it up, and it smelled amazing, and tasted better - as did every bite til the last! There wasn't a line but a consistent line of customers walked up after ordering online and quickly picked up their goods to take and enjoy. Quick and friendly service. They helped me order, and they didn't go wrong. I will prob be back one more time before I leave C'Ville at the end of the week to try out something different. Recommend.

Such a cute find! A tiny store front ordering window with to-go only pasta. Their menu is nice and short, we chose from 4 different pastas. They also have a salad option, a family option, and a dessert! We tried the caccio e pepe, fettuccine with vodka sauce and meatballs, and a bolognese. All pastas were good but the bolognese was easily the best. All noodles were cooked perfectly al dente and it was perfect as a pre-flight meal before heading out of the city!

My kids really enjoyed the garlic parmesan sticks, served piping hot and full of flavor. They were able to make us pappardelle with just marinara sauce for the kids. The pasta was fine, I'm sure great if ordered as is off the menu.

If you want the short - learn from my mistake: don't believe the hype - just take a pass on this place. If you must eat there - get the Pistou, skip the pricey kale caesar salad. If you want the long... After reading the rave reviews for this place I was so excited to try the pasta and the kale caesar salad. I love the concept - teeny tiny oh-so-adorable storefront with a separate kitchen (presumably off site but within walking distance) that makes their own pasta and only does takeout. Everything comes in compostable cups - so green, so cute! I'm only in Charlottesville for the week and Luce was the first place on my list to try, assuring my hungry family that it's gonna be amazing! I generally trust a highly rated place on Yelp but, sadly, I've learned my lesson on that one. I'll also note that this is just as much of a negative review for Yelp itself and for my own trusting-to-a-fault nature as it is for the actual restaurant. That being said, proceed at your own risk. Three of us were ordering so we decided to get three different pastas with three kale salads, an order of meatballs and a piece of cheesecake. I had the Cacio, my sister had the Bolo and my mom had the Pistou. We all started with our salads and all agreed - fresh, decent...but definitely not worth the $10 price tag. I actually told my mom that I owe her $30 as I was the one that suggested we each get our own. If I were local, I'd order the salad again only if they cut the price in half or more. My mom said the kale salad kit she brought from home would've been better - and would've fed all of us twice over for well under $10. My mom liked the Pistou and meatballs but said "it's nothing to write home about." My sister and I concurred. Unfortunately that was the best part of the meal. My sister enjoyed her Bolo and cheesecake but, as the only local, stated she'd never order from them again. I didn't try the cheesecake but my Mom did not like it at all. My Cacio was the most disappointing. It was undercooked, all stuck together and extremely bland - reminded me of the buttered noodles from Noodles & Company that I used to love as a child with no sense of taste - what a complete bummer. I couldn't even finish half of the serving - not only was it not nearly worth the calories, it was just sad. I lost my appetite. I feel like I let my girls down :( I would like to add, however, that the women at the counter/inside were so very sweet and attentive and hardworking and I really appreciated that. They saved this from being a one star review. All in all, never again. And y'all raving about this place really need to try some good pasta! Cristina's in Wheaton, MD comes to mind if you're in the DMV. There's also the entire country of Italy if you're on the European continent - a snarky remark of course but worth mentioning since I've had the great privilege of traveling there/eating copious amounts of actual Italian food so my pasta standards are very high. Ok then, farewell Yelp.

Melt in your mouth pasta Savory pizza with a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside crust Friendly staff

Small hole in the wall place next to a parking lot but offers an upscale pasta and pizza menu. They were really accommodating to children who came with us and wanted a more simple pasta than what was offered. Could use some seating however- even if only a small table out front or a bench.

Such a fun spot in downtown Charlottesville! Delicious pasta with kind service! I got the Cacio Pepe and it was the perfect warm, comfy meal on a cold night with friends!!

Came here spontaneously looking for somewhere to eat after leaving Carter Mountain Orchard with my friend. Found this spot on Yelp that I also remembered seeing a video for. Luce is a charming little window that serves fresh homemade pasta. As we scanned the menu, people who walked by expressed how good it was. I ordered the Fett which has fettuccine in a vodka sauce with pork meatballs. I asked for another recommendation from the woman who took my order, and she said I should get the Bolo which has a pork ragu over pappardelle. This pasta was a pleasant surprise. It was fresh, savory, and full of flavor. We also ordered a spicy pepperoni pizza which was super tasty as well. A month later I decided to go on another trip to Charlottesville, this time just myself. I had to make sure I made another stop here and had to order pasta to bring back for my friend who came with me the first time as well as some to share with my family. Just like the last time the staff were super friendly and worked quickly. I ordered 6 pastas, and all were done in 10 minutes. In addition to the Fett and the Bolo, I tried the Cacio and the Pistou which had zucchini, and pesto. Both were yummy but the Fett and Bolo are still my favorites. Overall, I highly recommend giving this window a visit and ordering what compels you.

Wasn't sure whether to leave this review at Crush Pad or Luce so I left it for both - keep reading to see why: I normally would never leave a 1 star review anywhere but I found the one reason that I would. A friend and I went to Crush Pad recently and after 4pm we learned that you can order Luce which seemed like an amazing idea. We each had a glass of wine and shared a cheese board then ordered our own dish from Luce. I ordered my go to, the Bolo, and my friend ordered the margherita pizza, as she is vegetarian. The food tasted great, however towards the end of the meal I started to feel unwell and ended up having food poisoning for the next 3 days. I'm sure it was from the Bolo as this is the only item we did not share. I don't know if the meat was bad, if the prep was unsanitary or what but I won't be back to Crush Pad or Luce probably ever

I ordered some food for pickup which was perfect, as you don't have to wait near the window after ordering. I got a Cacio e Pepe pizza, Bolo pasta, and Pistachio cheesecake. First, if you're like me and not sure how filling pasta in a cup can be -- it's extremely Filling. The cup may look regular size but it's packed to the brim! The bolo was really good. And the pizza, chefs kiss. And thought I'm not a huge fan of pistachio, the cheesecake was delicious as well! Of course, with everything I ordered I had leftovers for a few days (which was partially my intention).

I'm sure I'm not the first person to remark on how it's a literal hole in the wall, so I'll skip that. There's some seating nearby. Pasta is rich and filling with luscious sauces. They're generous with the meat, and I'm always full when I eat here even though the boxes might look a little small at first. They open at 4:00 and close when they run out of food. Good news is everything is super fresh, but something to be aware if it's at the tail end of their posted hours.

The food from this place was delicious. I got the cacio e pepe and fettuccine pastas. Additionally, we got the the breadsticks. Luce is a small to-go restaurant at the corner of the block with a couple of very friendly workers. I'm only rating this place as 4 stars because I thought the price was slightly too much for how much we were getting. Cacio e Pepe: Very buttery and flavorful. The cheese was nicely incorporated and the peppery flavor definitely stood out. Fettuccine & Meatballs: When I got it, I got it without cheese and meatballs on the side. The sauce was very creamy and flavorful. The meatballs were tender and soaked in a lot of the sauce. Recommend this pasta. Breadsticks w/ Marinara and Ranch: The breadstick had melted garlic parmesan cheese on top and it was delicious. The sauces were very good and nicely complemented the breadsticks.

Luce is a cute little walk-up restaurant where you order takeout from the window. They're located at the Downtown Mall on one of the side streets that crosses through the promenade. They specialize in pasta and pizza but have a few other menu items such as salad, bread sticks, and cheesecake. I ordered the fettuccine which contained pork and beef meatballs along with fettuccine noodles tossed in a red vodka sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs and parmesan. The pasta was fresh and the sauce smooth. I felt it could've used some salt and red pepper flakes, but I devoured the whole thing as it was because there was something intriguing about the simplicity of the flavors. The meatballs, however, did contain more spices and herbs than the sauce. I definitely enjoyed them but they weren't anything to rave about. I also ordered the kale caesar salad which included tomatoes and was also topped with toasted breadcrumbs and parmesan. The salad could've used more herbs in the dressing which was bland, but it gave you and opportunity to appreciate the freshness of the ingredients. There are a few patio tables on the side of the building, but they don't seem to be wiped down very often or they perhaps get a lot of traffic, but one table had bird droppings on it, so this would be a good spot to grab takeout on the way home.

This place was such a nice hidden gem in CVille! I ordered their Fettucine and Ciao. I preferred the Fettucine, the meatballs were amazing and the cup was heavy with noddles. The sauce was some of the best I have tasted in a while. I liked the simple style of serving everything in a cup.

Yum x 1,000,000!!!!! Such amazing pasta. Warm, fresh, with so many good ingredients. I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the food. The bread sticks were awesome too. Service is very friendly at the pickup window on the side of the building. Can't speak for the atmosphere too much but the cook was jamming, dishing up some amazing meals. This will always be a top 10 for me.

We didn't go to the actual Luce, but when you have drinks at Crush Pad Wines, you can order off the Luce menu and someone will hand deliver (?!!) your food on a plate from Luce! What a wonderful concept!! We ordered pasta - Cacio, Bolo (papperdelle and pork ragu), and Pistou ( spaghetti with shaved zucchini and tomato, in a pesto sauce). All 3 pastas had great flavor and I loved the texture of the noodles!! Very good!

Such a gem. The Cacio e Pepe hits different here. It's also quite fun to grab from the little window after browsing downtown.

WEAR GLOVES OR USE TONGS, SIR!! I understand there are probably worse things that happen in a kitchen/ restaurant; but when you can see the person whose taking your money and everyone's else put his bare hands in the parmesan cheese, tomatoes and other toppings without proper sanitation after just taking and touching money, cards, pens is wild to me...the food is great, definitely 10/10.

What. The. Heck. The world needs more pasta on the go type places for city dwelling. I'm so impressed with the flavor that came out of the cup. What a cute location too!

Our C'ville family member called this shop "the pasta window", and that seems apt. Designed for takeout, we found that the pasta takeout container size was deceptive- initially we thought "geez, that's not much pasta", but once we started spooning it out, we easily fed three adults. The "Bolo" (short for bolognese) was great -meaty, flavorful, and the pappardelle was cooked perfectly. We added a pizza just in case, and again, with three of us sharing, it was just right. The spicy pepperoni was good, but I think we had our local hot honey and pepperoni as our mental model/frame of reference, so it wasn't as spicy as we had hoped.

This home made, hole in the wall, pasta/pizza shop is a great grab and go while you're walking in downtown Charlottesville. I've only tried the pastas but they also have pizzas and salads available. The ragu to me personally taste better than the Alfredo. The noodles taste fresh and it will fill you up in that little paper container. I feel like the sauce could use more flavor Overall, it taste good and it's quick.

Yummmm! It was so hard to decide what to get as everything sounded delicious. The homemade fettuccini noodles were cut thick and came smothered in vodka sauce. The sauce was warm and creamy and the meatballs paired well with it. I usually opt for spicier food, but this hit the spot none the less. My pasta was ready in less than 5 minutes and the employees were friendly. I'm only in Charlottesville for the weekend, but I'm highly debating coming back a second time so that I can try out the pizza or another pasta dish.

I never leave reviews, but I just had to make an exception for this place. The fettuccini was the best I've ever had, and although at first it seems pricey for how much you get, it's very filling food. Definitely recommend if you're in the area, and it's probably worth a quick detour if you aren't.

Good food. The cups were a little small to eat right out of, so I would probably recommend bringing them home and putting them on a larger plate. The pasta was very quick, maybe around 5 minutes. I would definitely give it a try.

Ate here with my wife, we both got the fettuccini with meatballs and were very pleased with it. There were three big meatballs in it and the pasta was flavorful and seasoned well. My one qualm is the way they take orders and say when the food is ready is not efficient and takes a long time.

Came here to pick up dinner with friends after catching a movie downtown. The pasta was good but not amazing. We tried the Cacio, Bolo, and the Fettuccine. I liked that the pasta was fresh and hand-cut. The sauces in each order were also good. The meat sauce in the Bolo was hearty. The Cacio was buttery and tasty. And the vodka sauce in the Fettucine was yummy with the parmesan and meatballs-- it was my favorite. However, the pasta in each of the orders was a little overcooked. It often broke apart when trying to pick it up with a fork.   Luce is a cute spot for a casual bite; however, the lack of outdoor seating is inconvenient in the cold weather, and the location in the downtown mall isn't ideal for ordering takeout. In addition, I think that they increased their prices based on what other reviewers mentioned. I was charged 13 dollars for the Bolo and paid 15 dollars with tax and tip which I found a little high in my opinion for a take-out pasta place.

Solid pasta (the meatballs are mouth-wateringly good), good pizza, and more cups than you know what to do with. Everything except the pizza is in a cup. Very easy to order and pick up. Location can be a little difficult to park near, but it's good enough to deal with. Would recommend if you're near the mall and want smaller portions and Italian food.

Had the bolo and the fettuccine and meatballs...amazing!!! The Torta di Formaggio was delicious! HIGHLY recommend!!

I stumbled across this place while looking for a casual Italian restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. What an ingenious idea, I thought! Pasta in a cup, sign me up! It is a charming outpost serving homemade pasta in a cup through a service window. It is very quaint and has seating outside in case you are looking for a nearby place to feast on your food. I've most menu items at this point and they are all very good. You really can't go wrong. The portions are smaller because it's in a cup so maybe plan on ordered 2. The bolo is very good as in the pasta with meatballs.

People aren't kidding about this being a practical hole in the wall, but this tiny local spot was so good I visited two days in a row. The kale Caesar salad was scrumptious, with an added bonus of bread crumbs on top. I also really enjoyed the pesto pasta, which was flavorful and perfectly portioned for one person. Can't wait to go back on my next trip to Charlottesville.

If you love Pasta... You MUST make your way to try Luce's... It's literally a small corner kitchen but what is produced is a beautiful cup of pasta absolutely worth waiting for! You can't go wrong with any of their pastas and they are all freshly made pasta from scratch with the perfect combination of flavors! I loved the simple buttery flavors of the Cacio! I would get a group of friends together... Purchase each pasta and their divide up the pasta so that you can taste all of them first before you make a decision about this place. Don't wait... Make your way there if you are a pasta lover!

I was visiting Charlottesville for the week and was told by multiple people to try Luce, and it certainly did not disappoint!! We originally ordered for pick up, but as soon as we saw the outdoor seating we decided to stay. You order online and they'll bring your order out either to the pick up table or straight to your table. We got the Cacio, Bolo, and kale salad. At first I thought the portion sizes were a bit small, but it was surprisingly filling. However, if you do have a big appetite, just one pasta will probably not do it for you. I really liked the Cacio while my boyfriend enjoyed the bolo (but both were solid choices). Everything was so delicious and fresh. The cheesecake was also pretty good, I really liked the crust. If I lived in the area I can definitely see myself frequenting this shop!

Every time I find this place again in my periphery I'm amazed as to what they do here. It's a small business, both in the literal and economic sense. Its no chain, and they don't pretend to be. In a world dominated by mass pasta creation in the food business, Luce, time and time again has proven that small batches and dishes reign supreme in quality. Their portions aren't tiny but they aren't titanic either. The pricing isn't great but for the quality of the food, I would pay it every time. I never think of "pasta" as a light meal but if you were to suggest Luce I would agree with you. The namesake fits this business well. The noodles are springy and fresh, the sauces are well balanced, never drowning the pasta or the toppings inside. When your dish is effectively, pasta, sauce, and the occasional meatball, every part of your dish must be brought to the highest level. There is nowhere to hide in simplicity but Luce does these three things well. I highly suggest anyone who loves pasta to give this place a try! The care that goes into each dish here is remarkable. I'm never disappointed and always eager to explore the small but intentional menu that the proprietors of this business have taken the time to make. I'll be back, hungry for more.

Yum!!!! Love that you can order it at the wine bar. Such good caccio e pepe and the salad was good too!

Wow must say I am in love. Kiss to the chef. Cacio pasta 10 out of 10. Marzipan cheesecake so good also. Highly recommend.

Went to Luce on Thursday night and there was no line and we were able to get seating at the picnic tables next to the building. A quaint little restaurant operating in a small building with window service, Luce offers 4 pasta options to choose from as well as a daily special, showing their confidence that they'll impress you with the classics. We sampled the daily special (balsamic steakhouse fettuccine) and the pistou. Trying both, I personally liked the pistou the best and thought the sauce was a great emulsion of flavor with the confit tomatoes, shaved zucchini, pesto, and Parmesan. The sauce for the pistou was a bit too liquidy for my personal preference, but overall real tasty.

Saved my 200th review for a special place! Pasta is just about my favorite food on the planet, and Luce nails it. They cook your pasta fresh to order (& the fun part is you can peep in the little window and see them do it). Don't miss the opportunity to try their specials, like the short rib stroganoff or the chicken alfredo. You can't go wrong with the 3 classics on the menu though. Oh, and the converted parking lot seating area is very spacious & cute. Can't wait to try the pizza!

We were staying overnight in Charlottesville on our way home back to New Jersey and I found Luce on yelp. We ordered the Cacio, Pistau and the Mushroom Marsala. It was only two of us and I ordered three pastas because I felt the prices were so reasonable that the portion sizes were going to be very small. Wrong! They come in soup to go containers with these awesome drawings on top. It was more than enough food for two people and to the other reviewers that say that they are expensive I don't know where you normally eat but for this quality of food and variety I would've paid double gladly. Also to the people that give this amazing takeout restaurant four stars, I don't know where you normally dine but this place is a 5+5. I walked up to the window and was greeted by an adorable young woman and my only regret is that we did not try their amazing cheesecake which I'm sure is to die for. Next time!

I'm not sure if I get the hype for this place. Perhaps the novelty of the "hole in the wall" idea, and the pasta is fresh - but my pasta was under cooked, stuck together in clumps. Sauce was delicious, but definitely on the skimpy side to make up for the clumped up pasta. I may go back and give it another go to see if it's a one-off.

Doesn't get more hole-in-wall-y than this BUT seriously the tastiest pasta ever!! love the "Bolo" but without mint (allergy). Seriously such a fave place to grab a bite to-go!

Best meatballs ever. The pizza was fantastic. Highlight was dessert... seriously amazing!

This place is a true definition of a hole in the wall with amazing flavors! We ordered all 4 of the pasta options and I just had to have the kale Cesar salad...EVERYTHING was amazing! The gentleman was very nice and welcoming, and he even walked us our food when it was done. We sat on the picnic tables that were on the side of the building and enjoyed the nice weather. The kale salad was full of flavor and I wish it had onions to seal the deal! My favorite pasta was the fettuccine and the vodka sauce was perfection! The meatballs were amazing and had I known that they were going to be THAT good..I would've ordered a side of meatballs. My least favorite was the cacio (probably spelling that wrong) but the sauce was a little thin for my liking but it was full of flavor! Overall, if I'm ever in Charlottesville again, Luce is on my list!!

I can't recommend Luce enough! They have 3 different pasta dishes to offer which they serve in a to-go cup, and they are some of the most high quality pasta meals I have ordered from anywhere! If the same pasta were served to me at a fancy sit-down restaurant, I wouldn't bat an eye--it would fit in perfectly. My favorite is the Bolognese (called Bolo on their menu) which has pork and carrots and is so hearty and delicious. They also have a Caesar salad that I highly recommend. You place your order at a little window on the downtown mall. They now are also part of The Lot, which offers outdoor picnic tables under a big tent. Great option for COVID-safe dining. Wait time is usually around just 5 minutes.

Go to spot when visitors are in town to compliment walks in downtown mall. Never though pasta in a cup could be so good

Absolutely amazing pasta in a cool little space. Pizza was perfection also. Do not underestimate this small space.

Seriously SO. GOOD. It can't get better than this. Pasta. From a teensy little walk up window. Tiny chalkboard menu. And BIG. AMAZING. DELICIOUS FLAVOR! If I was a VA native, I'd totally make this my regular spot. I got the special they had today, short rib fettuccini with magic. That's about the best way I can describe it! I couldn't even take a photo of it because I couldn't wait to dive in, so here's one mid-eating. Go check this place out already. You will have no regrets.