Ristorante Luciano

This is hands down the best Italian food I’ve had in New Jersey! The food was absolutely amazing, and I really appreciated that they had dietary options like gluten-free pasta available. I ordered the Penne all’Amatriciana, it was full of flavor. I also highly recommend starting with the Brussels sprouts appetizer, it was crispy and delicious! The staff was nice and welcoming. The only downside was that it was pretty hot inside the restaurant, but overall it was a great meal and I’ll definitely be coming back.

This place is very hard to get into. Always booked and very busy. The sauce is amazing. We’ve had their Lobster pasta special several times, Sea Bass and Rigatoni Pomodora. All dishes are wonderful. Super friendly servers. It’s a great choice if you’re in the mood for Italian food.

My husband and I got really lucky and were able to walk in on a Monday night. We'd never been before but thought the menu looked great, and we knew enough about the area that we had a bottle of wine in the car! Everything was delicious, but the Spaghetti with Crabmeat was truly SO good, we were both blown away. Perfectly balanced, just enough heat, just enough crab, and the pasta itself was phenomenal. My only regret is that we didn't get dessert. We'll be back and be sure to make a reservation the next time we're down the shore!

Always a wonderful time. Always go with the specials. Veal parm or the “on the bone” are crowd pleasers. Rigatoni pomodoro was so unique and the whole table made sure to savor every bite! The Brussel sprouts are without a doubt the best thing to add to any meal choice. See you soon! Lauri is the best of the best

This was a weird one. We were told that this place was impossible to get into during the summer, so being that it was winter, we had to try. It was underwhelming. I understand you’re a BYOB but the glassware was not great (think stemless wine/water glasses. Also, this is in a nice beach town). The restaurant was packed but even then the service was glacially slow (especially to get our food). As a part of our entrees you have the option of a house or Caesar salad for an up charge. The house salad was, I kid you not, lettuce. Just lettuce. No tomatoes, or onion, anything. The Caesar wasn’t much better. Romaine lettuce with 3 croutons. No cheese shaved on top. Nada. And that was an upcharge of $5. The entrees were exactly as expected- nothing extra, just a solid Italian dishes. Chicken parmigiana was two substantial pieces of chicken. The Chicken Riviera was good but only three shrimp on the dish. The veal champagne was covered in sauce and flavorful. The ricotta cheese gnocchi in meat sauce was a massive portion, but note - this is NOT a meat sauce. In any sense of the word. This was a fine meal and extra points for being a BYOB but definitely not worth the hype.

We have dined at Luciano since the “early days”, and have admired how the team established and grew this business. It is one of the best restaurants anywhere. Experience - the reception and table assignments are generally good. The atmosphere is very nice. Service - the service is always very good (and often excellent). Food - All of the food is absolutely outstanding. Overall, the experience is fantastic.

Wonderful experience. We will return! This place is BYOB. Pistachio Gelato was amazing! The lobster and shrimp special with homemade pasta was so good. My family enjoyed the veal parm and chicken marsala.

The chef is amazing!!! Haven’t had a meal this fantastic since Italy!! Highly recommend!!!

The restaurant was very good. Very difficult to get a reservation but well worth the trouble. Food was superb. I give a shout out for the gnocchi and the veal parm. The crab and spaghetti was very fresh and tasty. Also liked the caprese Was very delicious with fresh tomatoes and excellent buffalo mozzarella.

Had a nice time overall at this Italian spot. We started with the calamari and Brussels sprouts. The calamari was a bit underwhelming--lacking in flavor and seasoning. However, the Brussels sprouts were a highlight: nicely crisped and well-seasoned. For the main course, I had the veal piccata, which comes à la carte, so I ordered a side of linguini. The veal was excellent--tender and flavorful with a lemony sauce. The linguini was just okay, nothing particularly memorable. We also tried the lobster pasta, which was a standout--rich, flavorful, and well-balanced. All in all, a pleasant dining experience with a few strong dishes. Would return, especially for the veal and lobster pasta.

Came here to celebrate Mother's Day and had a lovely evening meal. Our waiter was very friendly and the homemade pastas were delicious. We also loved the small mom and pop vibe. The only reason this isn't a five star is because the house salad was not good at all and there was trash under our table when we got seated. I would still happily return though because my fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp was to do for. As was all the pastas we had.

The moment you step inside, you're transported to a cozy Italian trattoria. The food is absolutely delicious! The pasta dishes are cooked to perfection, with rich, flavorful sauces. We loved the calamari appetizer and fettuccine alfredo. While the prices are a bit higher than your average Italian restaurant, the quality of the food and the overall experience make it well worth it. If you're looking for a special dining experience in Stone Harbor, Ristorante Luciano is the place to go. Tips Make a reservation Order the chocolate souffle for dessert

There were six of us for dinner on a Saturday night. We had a reservation for 9pm were seated right then. The place was packed and a bit loud. No music. Our waitress Melissa was obviously a seasoned professional. We ordered the Brussels special, calamari, caprese, and meatballs to split. The Brussels knocked it out of the park. Wow. This should be on the normal menu! The caprese was perfectly seasoned but the tomatoes were tasteless. Everyone loved the calamari and meatballs. I did not try the meatballs. All the main dishes come with a salad. I got the Caesar with croutons but didn't realize you have to ask for anchovies. It was good and my friend gave me a few anchovies. For my main I got the fettuccini Alfredo with crab. Best dish of the vacation!!!! So creamy, so mild. Wonderful reheated the next day too! This place is a gem! I would come back and order the Brussels and crab fettuccini Alfredo again. And Caesar salad with anchovies. Place is BYOB .

Whether you're visiting or a local, if you're looking for authentic Italian, Ristorante Luciano is your place. Reservations are highly recommended, yet hubby and I were able to grab a two-top as a walk-in on a packed Tuesday night - a little luck and a lotta Joe who is the owner and clearly the man. He exudes hospitality - from the way he treated me and my husband (little did he know at first it was his birthday!) to every guest who walked in the building with kindness and a clear passion for making others day. Even when he wasn't able to squeeze a walk-in - he still informed his potential guests other great nearby options. Our server, Grace, was professional, kind, made great recommendations, and was the perfect amount of attentiveness during her busy shift. She nailed her steps of service with precision. The bussers were courteous, clearing plates promptly, and obviously engaged in their work/shift. Chef not only prepared his or her housemade dishes with love - but all was coursed out perfectly. I wish we took more pictures but I was so enamored with the flawless FOH execution and sheer excitement I recieved everytime a dish dropped that we gobbled it up immediately. Clearly Front of House and Heart of House leaders care about their team and that has translated into one of the best dinners we have had in awhile. You are the comeback sauce! Kudos, Team Luciano. Thanks for making year 35 end on the highest of notes.

This was a weird one. We were told that this place was impossible to get into during the summer, so being that it was winter, we had to try. It was underwhelming. I understand you're a BYOB but the glassware was not great (think stemless wine/water glasses. Also, this is in a nice beach town). The restaurant was packed but even then the service was glacially slow (especially to get our food). As a part of our entrees you have the option of a house or Caesar salad for an up charge. The house salad was, I kid you not, lettuce. Just lettuce. No tomatoes, or onion, anything. The Caesar wasn't much better. Romaine lettuce with 3 croutons. No cheese shaved on top. Nada. And that was an upcharge of $5. The entrees were exactly as expected- nothing extra, just a solid Italian dishes. Chicken parmigiana was two substantial pieces of chicken. The Chicken Riviera was good but only three shrimp on the dish. The veal champagne was covered in sauce and flavorful. The ricotta cheese gnocchi in meat sauce was a massive portion, but note - this is NOT a meat sauce. In any sense of the word. This was a fine meal and extra points for being a BYOB but definitely not worth the hype.

My wife and I had dinner tonight at Ristorante Luciano in Stone Harbor. This was our second visit and it did not disappoint. We both started with shrimp cocktail. My wife had chicken parmigiana for her entree. I had the filet. We shared their homemade white chocolate pistachio lava cake (delicious). Also noteworthy their bread comes from Brooklyn! So good. If you are looking for a good Italian Restaurant this place is worth a visit. They take reservations 21 days out. A shout out to our server Lauri. Pictures follow.

Ristorante Luciano has the most delicious, flavorful dishes that are so well thought out and carefully made with love. The owners and staff treat you like family and make it a truly unique and wonderful experience. I look forward to going back every year, I wish I could go more!

This is absolutely my family's favorite restaurant. Their food and service are second to none. Their homemade pastas, regular fantastic specials, desserts, etc. You will need to plan in advance. There is a reason it's hard to get in.

July 2022. Melissa was our server and the service was impeccable. The kitchen executes very well and the food was delicious. It's very expensive and the pasta I ordered with the veal parm is an up charge. The salad that came with the meal was good but could have used more ingredients than just spring mix. The dressing was very savory and good. My kids tried the Caesar salad for a 5$ up-charge. They raved about it. My son ordered stuffed broiled flounder and it was out of this world. The amount of crabmeat was astonishing, he ordered the linguini with Alfredo. I kind of wish I would've ordered the Alfredo. I opted for the spaghetti w meat sauce- it was good but I regretted not getting alfredo. The meatballs were delicious- my mom ordered the ravioli with meatballs. I was told that only the spaghetti and linguini were homemade there. They add more $ on the bill for the homemade factor above the existing side of pasta up charge. If you want to order the soufflé you have to order it when you order your entree or at the very latest when entrees are served. The soufflé takes 20 min to bake and you have to be out of the restaurant in 90 minutes time. I ordered the soufflé and really enjoyed it- it was served very hot- it was light but also rich. I've never had a soufflé so I figured it was time. When you make a reservation the restaurant wants you out in 90 minutes. I felt pressured to hurry up and vacate my table due to the policy. There is also a possible 50$ per person - PER PERSON- charge for a cancelled reservation which is pretty harsh in my opinion but I do understand why. You are forced to put in your credit card info in the event of a cancellation too when trying to reserve a table. I get it- it's the shore, there is limited seating too. I wouldn't tolerate any of this stuff at home quite honestly. I would like to go back next year and I'll definitely get the Alfredo. Maybe even the stuffed flounder.

Went for a birthday celebration and omg what an absolutely fabulous restaurant. The service was superb and on point and the appetizers, main entrees and dessert were perfect in every way possible...timing, presentation and taste. Ristorante Luciano is certainly a gem in the South Jersey shore. A wonderful place for great food and expert service.

This was my first visit to Ristorante Luciano and was with my sister who has been many times. Because of her high recommendation, my expectations were high. I can easily say I was not disappointed. Things started well with prompt attention from our server, Mary. Our beverages were brought quickly and we were presented with menus and a large selection of daily specials. My companion ordered the carpaccio with arugula and gnocchi with pork bolognese. I went with the shrimp scampi over linguini. I understand that they make their own pasta and it explains the quality of both pasta dishes. My shrimp scampi was perfectly prepared and the serving size was more than ample. Flavors were balanced and the firm texture of the shrimp was complimentary to firm pasta. My companions gnocchi was also perfectly cooked and the bolognese sauce was amazing. When the sauce hit my tongue, it was an explosion of flavor. I must also mention the focaccia bread. It's a five dollar up charge but worth every penny. The bread was fresh and flavored with the right amount of rosemary and sea salt. If you want to drink, you must byob. I didn't have dessert but I overheard they offer a chocolate soufflé as well as other items. I'd recommend that you give this place a try if you aren't price conscious and looking for delicious, high quality food!

Dined at Luciano's last night and can't stop thinking about my dinner. For starters we had the prosciutto and homemade mozzarella cheese and an order of the Brussels sprouts with crispy prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. Both were specials and both were amazing. The proviso was so fresh and the Brussels sprouts were crispy and tasty with the balsamic glaze they added. For my dinner I had the spaghetti with crab sauce!!! The capellini were cooked perfectly and the sauce had a great crab flavor as well as a generous amount f fresh jumbo crabmeat My husband had the veal chop which was a special, the chop was the whole size of the plate and he said it was perfect. They make a delicious chocolate shuffle desert but I could not order it after consuming all of the food we ordered no doggie bags for us, even though the portions are more than generous. The whole team here is top notch friendly and efficient. If you are in the stone harbor area don't miss this amazing restaurant. Book early as they fill up quickly

We were a party of three and we were quite pleased with the great service and delicious meal. Very good pasta dishes, all specials are indeed special! Definitely worth the 3 week advance reservation. Will return for sure.

Everything is always delicious and we can't wait to spend more time here this summer!

I have been coming here since the year they opened and they have evolved into what is probably one of the best if not THE best restaurant in the 7 mile area. Making a reservation can be a bit daunting, but that is simply because of how popular this place is and that reputation is well deserved. My favorite dishes here? Anything with crab meat! Not only do they use fresh and great tasting crab (authentic crab, not that fake whitefish stuff) they heap it on in big mounds! This trip, I had the Fettucine Alfredo with added crabmeat and it was an epic, delicious meal! Service as of late has been really good here. The staff is friendly and professional and show up at exactly the right times. My only gripe (actually I have 2) is that some of the tables are a bit small and quickly get cramped when bread, appetizers and entrees start to arrive. The other gripe is they never have the Filet special on the menu when I visit! In case you didn't know, this is a Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola cheese, spinach and (yes you guessed it) mounds of crab meat! Make it a regular menu item already!

After reading many reviews I was excited for my anniversary dinner but was sadly disappointed. Our waitress started out great, friendly, helpful and attentive but later disappeared and follow up with limited. COVID Tables were spread out. Tables were cleaned between parties. Staff were wearing masks. We started off with upgrading to the Cesar salad. The dressing did have good flavor despite having an overly strong garlic presence and the croutons were crunching and seasoned nicely. My husband's spaghetti was over cooked and lacked flavor despite the crab sauce. I ordered what the waitress told me was one of the more popular dishes. I was debating about ordering pasta and she suggested having pasta with my meal. She even suggested the homemade fettuccine which is the only homemade pasta. I thought that was a great idea. I had no idea there would be an up charge which I feel should have been communicated. I'm not one to look at prices when there's something I want but I do like to be informed. My meal overall was fine. Veal was tender, fettuccine was nicely cooked giving it a good texture but the meal lacked flavor. I ordered the chocolate soufflé which I ordered at the time of ordering my meal as soufflés take time to bake. We ended up waiting for the soufflé longer then we should have since we ordered it early. The soufflé did rise but inside was almost completely liquid, The side of homemade vanilla ice cream with chocolate pretzels was smooth and rich. We were given a piece of chocolate cake while waiting for the soufflé as was the only other table still seated. Not sure why a chocolate cake would have been the best choice for a table who already ordered a chocolate dessert unless it was something they wanted to finish.

Not much more to say other than Ristorante Luciano is incredible! The prosciutto and mozzarella is a must order appetizer. Server was very attentive and accommodating to our needs. We brought a bottle of wine since it was BYOB. The restaurant is packed with tables, but not too crowded. Make sure to get your reservation early (3 weeks prior on open table). I look forward to my return!

Another outstanding meal at one of our favorite spots. In fact, my spectacular wife, Olivia, said, "this just topped Ar****'s as my new favorite restaurant!" Now that's a review! TO start, the service here is fantastic. Joe, the host/maître d', sat us at our favorite table. It was the first table we ever sat at here, which brought back fond memories. Right by the main entrance and next to a window. Perfect for people watching. Christina was our attentive, knowledgeable, professional, and likable waitress. She refreshed our utensils, refilled our water, attended to our cheese and fresh cracked pepper requests, and ensured we were constantly content without being overbearing and overboard. And the cleaning crew didn't miss a beat. At the first sighting of an empty plate, it was gone before we could blink. He may have picked up my wife's appetizer plate too soon, but in his defense, there was nothing left on the plate (for a normal person). That brings me to the food. The best around, hands down! Whatever they have going on in the kitchen, it's working. We started with our typical appetizer, the burrata and speck special. It's one of those dishes that we would lick the remnants off the plate if it were socially acceptable. Next, we both opted for the upgraded Cesar salad. Worth the up-charge! For the main meal, I selected the veal parmigiana with a side of penne pasta. The veal was perfectly cooked, astoundingly tender, wonderfully delicious, and just perfect in general. The cheese on top was crisped up nicely in under the broiler and the sauce was exactly as I like it, extremely flavorful and not too thick/pasty. As for the side of penne, so simply but so good. My rockstar wife also got a side of pasta with her meal. We both opted for the oil and garlic "sauce" instead of the tomato sauce. How could simple oil and garlic be so good?? I'm not sure. Whatever they are doing, don't stop. Olivia agreed that they should serve that sauce with the complementary bread at the start of the meal. For her main, my one-of-a-kind wife went back to one of her known favorites, the champagne chicken. It looked fantastic and she said the taste was spot on. Something to keep in mind when you dine here is the dessert. I obviously ordered the chocolate soufflé, again. It's something you have to order in advance and I always do. Perfect every time. Beautiful Olivia ordered a cream brûlée cake. We both tried each other's desserts and both loved them each (equally). Did I mention they are BYOB? Now you know why it is my wife's favorite restaurant. You can make reservations up to 21 days in advance and they go quickly. Over two weeks before tonight and the only time option that remained was the 5pm slot. No regrets at all, and we can't wait for the next visit.

Waiter very attentive, cool little spot right off the strip of stone harbor, calamari was good, had the shrimp scampi nothing special but decent overall.

Came here for dinner with my husband for our first "date night" in forever. We don't go out much and I feel that most places down the shore are overpriced for mediocre food and I end up disappointed. So I really did my research to find this place. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get reservations here especially on the weekends. I'm guessing people that are coming down for their vacations book at the beginning of summer. We had pretty much given up on going here the weekend we wanted to go out. But, we signed up online to get notified if anything opened up and we were able to get a table on a Friday at 5 PM! The restaurant is small and has a really nice, cozy, rustic atmosphere. To start, we were brought out a nice bread and oil. For our appetizer, we ordered the calamari fritti to start, which was the only thing here that I would describe as just average. It was good but tasted like you would get anywhere else. For our entrees, I ordered the gnocchi and my husband ordered the veal principessa. Both our entrees came with salads but we paid the $3 extra to upgrade to Caesar which was well worth it! The Caesar salad was absolutely delicious. The salad was fresh and high quality, and the dressing and croutons were spot on. My gnocchi were also amazing, they were homemade and perfectly pillowy. The meat sauce they came in hardly had any meat in it though. My husband also loved his entree. The veal principessa came with crabmeat, cheese and asparagus on it. I tried it and thought it tasted great, the veal was so tender. For dessert, we were happy to try the chocolate soufflé which I saw a lot of people rave about on here. It was decadent and well worth ordering. Overall, we were extremely happy with our meal here and would definitely come again. Service was great without being intrusive. Also, you can save some money with it being BYOB. I highly recommend this place for a date night down the shore, especially if you are into good food and don't want to just go to some over hyped place. I also found the prices here to be pretty reasonable considering it's a nicer restaurant down the shore. 5 stars.

Homemade Pasta (top right clockwise) Spaghetti with jumbo lump crab Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp Ravioli with meatballs. I am always hesitant to try a new restaurant on vacation, because of the potentially large disappointment to not only me, but my family. Ristorante Luciano was aces. The homemade pasta was cooked to perfection. The sauces were as advertised. My spaghetti with crab was balanced and full of enough jumbo lump. Ethan's ravioli were reported to be absolutely delicious. Steph's Alfredo was rich and comforting. Highly recommend making a reservation well in advance. The place was packed. These were some of the best pasta dishes of our year at our table tonight. #rushieeats

This restaurant has by far the greatest discrepancy between yelp reviews, photo, and overall perception than the actual service and execution of each dish we tried that I have ever experienced. I like to be thoughtful and respectful because I know what goes into running a restaurant and the power a bad account can carry is huge, I'm forgoing all of that for the quick and dirty, its what this meal warranted: Cons Fried Calamari - Overly salted and the tiniest pieces I have ever seen, not some pieces, the entire plate. Burrata and ??? I'm assuming this was speck and not prosciutto like eveyone has posted. This speck was smokier than ones I've tried previously so all that comes to mind is easter ham, takes away from the delicate taste of the burrata. Focacia ($5 supplement) This was a tasty addition to their bread offering, but was drenched in maldon sea salt so half of the pieces were inedible(we left them). Pasta and crab For $38, the portion size was the same as the half portion of gnocchi we ordered for my daughter and the pasta was mushy. Flavor-wise, the dish is what you would want. Veal Piccata with pasta The veal was tasty and tender and wait...where are the capers?! Their recipe doesn't include them and in doing so is the only restaurant in America that serves it this way. This restaurant does not include sides which is ridiculous, this is not a steak house where you'd expect an ala carte option/charge for delicious sides, it's an Italian restaurant and mixed veggies or pasta aren't standard?! I can't believe what I am writing. None of this is the insult...the insult was that the 1/6th a box of pasta that i paid $6 for was...wait for it, not tossed with the sauce, but strewn about on the plate, bland, pointless. Instead, they include a basic plate of dressed greens (nothing else) or for $5 more, a Caesar salad. The greens were so overly dressed, I could not eat a second bite. Chocolate Souffle The souffle was a bit overcooked, but the bigger offense was the tiny condiment cup (yes, really) of gelatto they paired with it served to us with demitasse spoons, is this normal? did they run out of dessert spoons? I don't care to know. Service Our server was nice and tried, but mispronounced several terms, forgot requests we made, and overall, seemed out of the league in which this restaurant is attempting to operate, however, the server in the next section seemed fantastic in every way so luck of the draw I suppose. We weren't informed of a dessert special. We wanted another dessert, we didnt get a chance to ask. Lost revenue. Pros: Elements of dishes are average or better in taste, but you'd never order them again (if for some ungodly reason you were a return patron) for the flaws listed above.

We had dinner celebrating her birthday. Food is always good and fantastic service. One of the best restaurants on the 7 mile island.

I have visited Stone Harbor with my family during peak season for many years. When we first visited Luciano's several years ago, we loved our experience. Over the past couple of years during COVID we kept talking about how we wanted to go back. They were closed during the pandemic and when they reopened they were completely booked. We were thankful to get a reservation this year and we were really looking forward to the experience as we were celebrating with my father a delayed Father's Day due to COVID. We heard rave reviews about the caramel brussels sprouts while we were waiting outside for our table. We came early and we were seated exactly at our reservation time. My family enjoyed the sprouts very much, they were perfectly crispy. The prosciutto e melone was a bit clunky as it was half of a cantaloupe sliced into 4 quarters for 5 people, but the ingredients were of excellent quality. Everyone liked the fried calamari but the tomato dipping sauce was not popular. It tasted like it was canned to me but I could be wrong. I love canned tomatoes of good quality but this ingredient needs time to heat before serving. When the gnocchi and raviolis came out, this confirmed the feeling about the tomato sauce. The sauce on the Marsala was also too sweet. The ricotta cheese gnocchi was listed as having a meat sauce and it did not. There were 2 meatballs on top of the meat stuffed ravioli but the meatballs were very heavy. Our server seemed stressed about an issue that we were not aware of so we did not bring up any concerns. The special I ordered was very good, halibut with a play on grapes and grape tomatoes. Very tasty. It was the most expensive entree ($45) and the portion was very small however. Definitely make this recipe if you have a halibut connection. The chicken Valdostana we ordered was a hit. No sage was detected however and the menu said there would be sage. This would have made it a Saltimbocca, I'm no Italian but I do like to cook. It seems the menu descriptions could be updated. The room has a very high ceiling and it's very loud when the room is crowded which is pretty much a given during peak season. It was a very nice experience but the staff just seemed to be pressured.

Best Italian in Stone Harbor! If you are in SH, done miss the chance to try it. The food, service and ambiance are all outstanding!

One of the best Italian restaurants I've tried. The gnocchi and chicken piccata were fantastic.

My family loves coming here and it's always a great experience. We love the portobello mushroom appetizer - tons of crab meat. Most recently I tried their fettuccine alfredo and it was delicious - so creamy and flavorful. To finish we had the chocolate soufflé - crispy on the outside but soft and gooey on the inside, just melts in your mouth and so good with the ice cream. Such a treat coming here. The staff is so friendly too!

What a wonderful night. The restaurant is charming and the staff is wonderful. The food was fresh and filling. We started with a Burrata and speck starter. Great combo of flavors. We couldn't decide between pasta and the carne. Luckily they do half portions of pasta. So we had the ravioli and pasta all Amatriciana. Chef's sauces are dynamite. The tomatoes for the sauces were packed with flavor. I was impressed with the selection of pasta and carne preparations. Loved to see things that you don't normally see on an America-Italian restaurant menu. I got the eggplant/veal parm special. It was out of this world. My husband got the veal Valdostana- delicate and bright flavors. He cleaned his plate. We ended this fantastic meal with a chocolate and pistachio gelato dessert. Such a great meal- look forward to returning.

Just okay... for the prices this place should have been much better. I swear every time I come the food gets worse and prices get higher.

After reading and hearing how amazing this place is, coupled with the level of difficulty in getting a reservation, our recent visit was a big disappointment. We were seated right away and greeted by our server pretty quickly. She was a veteran server who was training a new employee. Our apps and salads were delivered quickly and were delicious. Unfortunately our dinners were lukewarm, if that. Diners are asked to order the soufflé when entrees are served which I did. When our dinner plates were cleared, my soufflé arrived but my husband was never even offered dessert or a dessert menu. Interestingly, the trainee was the one who checked in on us. Anyway, this visit was disappointing in comparison to the previous times were were there.

Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Principedsa, Spaghetti with Crab, Ravioli with Veal & Beef meatballs, Fried Calamari, 3 side salads - all very good to outstanding. At this time it seems take out only but there may be outdoor seating. Everything was cooked correctly and nice temperature once we got it home. About $138 before tip. Well worth a try

Could not get in to dine so... did take out. The meatball appitizer was larger than the veal we ordered as the main coarse. Veal was meh at best, very chewy, not very tender. You get one piece of veal and it isn't served with anything (over pasta or sides) Lets get to the salad you did get, mixed greens only with dressing. Once is enough for me. Lena S.

Service was A+!! Food was excellent and delicious Italian dinners, fresh, flavorful and perfect! Deserts were also top notch and everyone in our party loved loved this restaurant! 5 Stars absolutely! Hard to get a reservation, but be patient it is worth it!

We made reservations online (which I highly suggest during the season). We had the roasted peppers as an appetizer and I upgraded to a Caesar salad. Excellent. I ordered veal parm with extra sauce and a side of garlic/oil pasta. Everything was very flavorful. They give you plenty of fresh bread to scoop up the sauce if you're someone like me and that's your thing. BYOB. The waitress, Ali, was very friendly. Nice atmosphere, dark and cozy.

Even on the busy holiday, staff were attentive and great! Loved the selection of foods! It's BYOB so bring wine. My favorites were the salumeria appetizer(it fed 3 of us). The sea bass and of course order dessert!! Pistachio gelato was the best!!!

Outstanding food from start to finish. The service is also excellent. Highlights from our group dinner were the homemade pastas. The spaghetti and crab, ravioli, and fettuccine were all some of the best pasta dishes we've ever had.

Luciano is a truly fantastic restaurant. If you go, you must try the charcuterie board and the pasta amatriciana! These are things that I dream of, dream of, because of how good they are. The antipasto board presentation is simply beautiful. The waitstaff is always wonderful. I absolutely love every experience I have when I dine here. You must try it!

Great food, great service. Party of 4 loved everything we had. The spaghetti with crabmeat was especially amazing. Highly recommend.

My family comes here every year and each time it is always delicious! Our personal favorites from the menu include the calamari fritti, portobello mushroom (with crabmeat), and the gnocchi. There have a large variety of pasta and meat dishes to choose from, and they recently began offering outdoor seating. I definitely recommend making a reservation as early as possible, as it does fill up pretty quickly.

Please don't overlook the restaurant policy that they charge $40 per person for a cancellation fee. Things happen and people sometimes have to cancel when they have large families. We can understand a $40 cancellation fee, but $240 for a family of 6 is outrageous. We will not be returning to this place.

Typically when you think of Jersey Shore fare, Italian doesn't come to mind. Lucianos will change that perception for you if you give it a try. Located in the downtown area of Stone Harbor, Lucianos is a quaint Italian joint perfect for a family dinner. It's BYOB so it's a great spot to bring a couple of bottles of wine & enjoy some tasty Italian cuisine. I went with my fiancées family for a birthday dinner because it's their favorite spot in town. We weren't starving because we had a late lunch so we only decided to do one appetizer. We decided on a Burrata dish and it was excellent. The cheese was super creamy and had the perfect consistency and taste that you want coming from a Burrata. For my main meal I ordered the veal parmigiano fritto. The veal had a great crust to it but was tender & juicy in the middle. That's really hard to accomplish. Most restaurants will either have a good crust but leave it dry in the middle or they'll accomplish a tender & juicy middle but a soggy crust on the outside. The meal came with a side salad which I substituted a Caesar for and it was a solid salad. The dressing was homemade and fresh so it was a nice accompaniment to the dish. For my dessert I ordered the tiramisu and it was fantastic. It was light, fluffy, not too dense with the perfect balance of espresso. All in all, Ristorante Luciano is a great spot for an intimate Italian meal. The only two things I would have changed was that the veal was swimming in too much sauce & there was too much cocoa powder on top of the tiramisu. That's just me being too knit picky because those are microscopic flaws compared to how great the dishes were executed.

The gnocchi is delightful, delicate pillows of delicious fluffiness. This restaurant never disappoints.‼

I am pretty disillusioned with most restaurants on the 7 mile island.. but Luciano has restored my faith. Delicious food and great service. Caesar salad and burrata special were great starters. Pasta and filet were flavorful and filling. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good Italian spot in SH/Avalon

Outstanding! Delish fresh foods! Best service, wonderful welcoming ambiance!! Our very favorite!!

We discovered Luciano last summer and if you haven't tried it yet, you need to discover it too. This restaurant is ridiculously awesome and you probably can't find a better Italian restaurant within 2 hours driving. The food uses basic recipes and high quality ingredients to deliver the best Italian food around. I've eaten in tons of restaurants in NJ and NYC and it's delicious. I've never eaten at Rao's in NYC but I'd like to think this is the Rao's of The Shore without buying a table. If the figs are on special - get them. If not get the meatball app. It's moist and delicious. Or get the Calamari - it's perfect. For entrees get any of the home made pastas. Last night we tried the 12 layer lasagne with paper thin layers of pasta - delicious. On the Carne side: Champagne, Voldostana, Principesa and those are just my favorites. If your entree comes with a salad, upgrade to the caesar. I'm a caesar freak and I always upgrade it. Their dressing is delicious: just the right amount of garlic and the best around. For dessert, if there is a special get it. I had a strawberry shortcake once, it was a large piece and large on flavor. If not, get their Ricotta cheesecake or the lemon torte both are delicious. Or plan ahead and order to soufflé. Since we discovered Luciano, we try to eat here as often as we can. There is a very loyal following and if you are thinking about eating here this summer, start checking now for reservations because you are likely to be shut out for a 7PM Saturday night reservation. Also, ignore any review under 4 stars because it makes no sense. The service is fantastic. The family running it is fantastic. The food is fantastic. I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes for my reservation time. The only reason to read a 1 star review here is to see how clueless the reviewers are. Luciano's is the best Italian on the island or any where else within 2 hours driving.

Went back this year. Had the ricotta gnocchi which were outstanding. Light and tasty and perfectly blended with their sauce. Tried a piece of the veal with eggplant on it which was a special and wished I had ordered that too. Triple chocolate cake dessert which was moist and as close to perfection as it could be. Dante our server was warm friendly and very helpful with the menu.

If you can get a reservatio, it's the best Italian restaurant at the jersey shore! we