Luciano’s
11 N Orchard St, Boise, ID, 83706
Luciano’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boise for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
11 N Orchard St
Boise, ID, 83706 - Phone (208) 577-6415
- Website https://www.lucianosboise.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Roland P.
I'm from Tacoma Washington and was visiting family in Boise, so when dinner came they took me here claiming it was the best Italian restaurant in the area & wow they were not kidding. The starting bread was freshly baked, crunchy shell and soft on the inside. Our waiter Santos was extremely friendly and charismatic. The 3 cheese tortellini that I ordered with Alfredo sauce was probably one of the best Italian dishes I've had in awhile (comes with a side of garlic bread, also great!) I will definitely come back here and try another dish when I'm back in town. Thanks Luciano's for the fantastic dinner!
(5)Heather G.
Best Italian food I've had in Boise! They give you an awesome loaf of bread with olive oil and balsamic for dipping ( refills on bread so be careful not to overeat and save room for the rest of the yummy goodness), and you get garlic bread with your meal. So warning, if you're coming here...get ready to carbo-load! ;-) Both times I've gone, we've ordered the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer. Delicious, creamy, not too salty yummyness! For my main meal, I get the Chicken Gorgonzola and ask them to add a veggie pack to it for a couple extra bucks. The first time I got it without, and it was a little too salty for my liking. Adding the veggies helped! I've also tried their crab stuffed seafood ravioli and lasagna from my friends who ordered, and both were delicious. They aren't stingy with their seafood and load you up! Their portions are huge, so I'd be surprised if you didn't leave with a doggy bag. After looking at their lunch menu, I think it's it's smarter to go in for lunch because the prices are almost cut in half. You have to pay $3 for a side or Cesar salad, which in my opinion should come with the meal. The reason I give 4 out of 5 stars is because of the slow service, and I'm not talking about the LONG waiting time to get in on a busy night. I'm ok with that because it's worth it. The second time we went in on a Monday night for my sisters birthday. They were busy, but not like the first time I went on a Friday night. Everything took so long to come out. I did like our server, and he was great with refilling our water, but the food took forever. We got our complimentary bread and appetizer quickly, but we had to wait a good 15 minutes after that for our salads, then another 20 for our meals. We arrived around 5:45pm, and didn't get out until 8:10ish. I felt like the first time I went, it was busier but the service was faster. So, if you decide to come here, make sure to give yourselves plenty of time! I'm telling you, it's worth it.
(4)Derek H.
Their food is good but they need to hold up on the sauces. Our pastas had too much sauce and my salad was drowning. I loved the atmosphere, and our waitress was amazing! If you go here you'll love it and to improving your experience ask them to go a little lighter on the sauce/dressing.
(4)Jeremy L.
Was good. Went on a Saturday was told the wait was 35 minutes.... we got a table an hour later. Food was good and people were very nice. Need to build a bigger place.
(4)Marc M.
Garlic chicken orzo salad is great. Not the best decor. Have to look past that. Food is well priced.
(4)K M.
Went to Luciano's on a very busy Friday evening on a date with my GF and another couple. Expect to wait 20 min at least on a Fri or Sat night. The bar is in the entryway and is very small but they have a little shelter outside with heaters if it is cold. Had a local microbrew (2 choices of IPA on tap) while waiting. The food was WORTH THE WAIT. I had the sausage and peppers with penne pasta. It was EXCELLENT and enough food for 3 people. In fact all 4 of us had way more food than we could finish and everyone was full and happy. If you are comfortable with the people you are dining with I'd suggest ordering "family style" and extra plates and trying several dishes. GREAT food and lots of it.
(4)T L.
Excellent food, great service! Highly recommend!! Great lunch specials!!
(5)conee s.
The food is awesome!!! I especially enjoy the salads and the little loaf of bread they serve with your meal. I live in Las Vegas and go to Boise monthly for work. I never miss a chance to eat at Luciano's. It's an important part of my Boise visit. Here's a bit of advice - go early to avoid the crowd!
(5)Phillip D.
This will be an odd review. The reason it will be odd is because I did not eat here. Continue reading to find out why. I run a Meet Up group called Restaurant Explorers. We eat at restaurants in and around Boise and write up reviews on them. As a group. we voted to go to Luciano's to eat. I was excited as I had not been here before. A few people in the group said that they had but had had a bad experience here due to flies. I was anxious to try this for myself and write up a review. Well, I called Luciano's to make a reservation. There were 10 of us that had signed up to eat here on a Saturday night. This began my bad experience. When I called, it went to an auto attendant. Now I have encountered many auto attendants before. You know the ones. "Welcome to ___. Thank you for calling us today. We are very anxious to talk to you. Press 1 for __ 2 for__ and 3 if you are so tired of listening to me rambling that you now want to blow you brains out." Ok, so I made up that last option, but Im sure you have all thought this with this God awful things. I have never ran into an auto attendant for a restaurant. Especially one that is as small as I am told this place is. If it was not for the fact that I was going to be making a reservation for a group, I would have instantly hung up and just looked elsewhere for my dining pleasure. My next &^%$@$#)& (In my best Yosemite Sam voice) came when I wanted to get to a live person. The message was long and I just wanted to get to a real person, so I just ignored the message and at the end of it, pressed 1 assuming that this would get to be a person. It did not. The auto attendant came back to life and said; 'We do not recognize this option." Then took me back to the very beginning of the message. "Hi, Thank you for calling...........................................Â.. After I set through the entire message again, I discovered that option 2 would get to me a live person and not 1. Why on earth they did not use option 1 for this, I will never know. This seemed like a huge duh to me!!! Finally I got to a live person, after what seemed like an eternity, I told the lady on the phone that I wanted to make a reservation for 10 for the next Saturday night. To which she replied; "I am sorry, but we do not take reservations for Fridays and Saturdays. " You have to be kidding me! I thought surely I was on that show called "What would you do." What would I do? I would have reached through the phone and ____ _______ ____ Ok, I admit that this scenario was only being played out only in my mind. But this was it. In the words of Popeye; "I had had all that I could stands and I couldnt stands no more." Needless to say, we voted not to eat here.
(1)Walter N.
Great family Italian restaurant! The service was spot on even during a busy Friday night. Wine and beer selection was quite good, and the freshly made pasta was amazing, all for an affordable price. We'll be back soon.
(5)R J.
First time here. Lunch portion is perfect in size. I had the veggie with angel hair pasta. Comes with a slice of think garlic bread. Nancy was our server. Great experience. Coming back for dinner soon.
(4)April N.
My husband and I visited Luciano's for a date night dinner hoping to dine at a fine Italian establishment. The evening started pleasantly enough, with an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms that were cooked and seasoned to perfection. Our waiter was a total space cadet, (the entire evening), and had forgotten to give us any bread. After we'd finished our bread, he brought us another...this time with olive oil and balsalmic...thanks? My husband enjoyed his seafood entree and it was of a decent proportion. I ordered the eggplant parmesan; it was a paper thin slice of eggplant between two thick slabs of breadcrumbs, served atop a bed of pasta with a dollop of thick marinara. For the eggplant slice being so thin, it was still watery and lacking that meaty texture you'd expect, as if it hadn't been properly "sweated" prior to cooking. All in all, our waiter didn't listen to us (offering dessert multiple times when I'd said no, not bringing bread accoutrements, generally lackadaisical on an otherwise slow night), and my simple meal was disappointing. Sad.
(2)JoAn E.
I really wanted to like this place the first time I went and the second time I hoped that it got better. I agree with other Yelpers on here that for Boise this is probably pretty good but in a big city it would be pretty average. The bread loaf with olive oil and balsamic is out of this world. Salad is good with a blue cheese vinaigrette, but nothing out of this world. Spaghetti was overly salted marinara sauce and too much oregano but the garlic bread was like toasted french bread with butter and no garlic flavor. Quattro Formaggio was super oily with no flavor which I can't believe because it had bacon in it. Not sure how that happens. Took 2 bites and decided to take the rest to go for a reheat leftover. I had to choke it down as a leftover, ate half and threw the rest away, still had no flavor. Berry crisp started out great but as we kept eating still had frozen berries. Server asked if we liked our food when we were done. She did say she would pass on to the kitchen staff the info we gave her. Overall it seemed like dishes couldn't balance between no flavor and overly seasoned. Like I said I really wanted to like this place. :-(
(2)Maggie R.
While in Boise for work I wanted Italian food. Read the reviews and decided to give it a try. And I am so glad I did! Garlic cheese bread was tasty and perfect. The Fettuccine Aragosta was so good. I wanted to order a plate to go. Best! I did order the cheesecake to go. Couldn't finish my dinner so decided it el probably be a great late night treat! If ever in Boise again I will be back!
(4)Chelsea J.
I love eating here! The staff are always really friendly and fun, and the food is phenomenal!
(5)Danielle M.
The service was quick and friendly. The parking is easy to access. I think it is a good place for groups and children. Great for date night! I really enjoyed my meal. I will come back here again! REVIEW UPDATE So we came back again for date night, the server spilled water on my date and his phone. The manager came over and said she would get us a bottle of wine, that never came. The server then was trying to up-sell us on every add-on possible and talking about dishes we weren't interested in. Am I at a car lot or restaurant?
(3)Lori R.
4 1/2 stars would be more accurate...Boise, you've got a real Italian gem here! Hope you fill up those tables every night in appreciation so this place is guaranteed to be there next time I get back to Boise. :) I shudder to think I almost said screw it when we had a hard time finding a parking spot. We found the place thanks to reviews here, but honestly, when we found it in what didn't appear to be the most charming part of town, then the parking lot was full with 3 aggravating folks parked lopsided taking up 2 parking spots each...well, we almost moved on. Thankfully we got lucky, someone moved out, and we moved in. Proceeded to have a fabulous meal. Possibly the best Pasta Puttanesca I've ever had in a restaurant. This is one I take pride in making myself, and they managed to do it better than me...wah! (but rah!) Others had lasagna (Husband thought it was better than lasagna he had out at a popular place in Raleigh recently). The other two enjoyed Clam Linguine and Chicken Gorgonzola. Both liked them very much! Service was quite good as well. By far the best meal I've had yet in Boise!
(4)Richard B.
We were visiting Boise and had dinner in Luciano's. I am an Italian from NYC so very snobby about my Italian food. Luciano's was excellent and I will definitely go back during our next visit. Excellent food and atmosphere.
(4)Brian M.
So ... i had a problem rating this Italian restaurant: Give them 3 stars and talk it up, or 4 stars and talk it down. I'm going with 3 stars and pointing out the positives. Good food, good service, portion sizes were congruent with prices. I was shocked at first to get good, crisp service ... it's kinda funny ... I've forgotten what plain ole' standard good service is like since moving to Boise. Good to see. I feel that if this place was in a more food savvy city it would be just another restaurant ... but given Boise's dearth of quality dining establishments Luciano's is a place to visit.
(3)Chris H.
Really kind of a cool little Italian joint. I've heard from freinds that it is a reasonably priced place to get lunch. They have lunch specials starting at $7.95. The food.. Well they start you out with two small loafs of bread straight down from heaven! Little olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you are happy happy! The side salad drizzled in blue cheese vinaigrette served in a chilled bowl was so good. And the pasta and marinara is just like Italian Grandma's. They have many grinders to choose from as well. Food was almost 5 stars.. Bread 10 stars. Awesome! The only down side.. All the servers were very nice, But it took about 45 mins to get our meal. So at lunch time that's a bit long. It did give us more time to eat more bread which they brought without even asking us. Pretty cool place. Definitely going back.
(4)Kimberly H.
What a wonderful date night my husband and I had on Friday!! It was the best food we have had in a long time, and our server Santos was so pleasant and acted more like family than a waiter. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was how long it took to get our first glass of wine. The restaurant was extremely busy, but it should never take 25 minutes for a drink and bread. Also, we did get charged for an extra glass of wine and beer.. But these things happen when restaurants are under staffed and I think that's just what happened :) BUT.. Great experience! We will be back very soon!
(5)J V.
Had the Quattro Formaggio pasta with Chicken and it was excellent! Starter bread was fresh, also had the hand cut fried mozzarella which was also very good. Also had excellent service from the staff here. Really made sure we had a great meal. Our whole table consensus was unanimous: great Italian dining experience! Like a lot of reviewers have said here, ditch Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill and make this your Boise staple for Italian food!
(5)Alison L.
Love it! Went for our 1 month anniversary (Yes, we are babies) and both loved our dishes. I had the fettuccine Alfredo and he had the pasta with the vodka sauce. Both dishes had an absurd amount of cheese! We will be back for sure! Note: If there is a bit of a wait, you are able to get drinks from the bar and have the bill transferred to your table.
(4)Tom Y.
Wow great food amazing service and shockingly affordable. We had two entrees an appetizer a small Caesar and a glass of wine. Total bill $46.00 If you're reading this your search is over just go!
(5)Larry E.
Five of us had dinner at Luciano's last night (3/7/15). Three of the five had experienced the resturaunt before, but it was my wife and my first visit. Things you need to know before you go: the place is rather small and fills up fast (we went at five and had an hour wait) so be prepared to drink a lot of wine or beer (the only alcohol they serve) before your dinner! Parking is at a premium - our daughter had to park almost a block away. The bar seats maybe six people and the waiting area is very small, but they have a neat little yurt outside with space heaters - it was a fun place to have drinks and converse with strangers. Food is fabulous! An extensive menu of Italian dishes, plus a large variety of pizzas. Service is friendly and efficient, sadly our server did not happen to be one of them! The hostess was very nice and comped us a dessert for our inconvenience - always a nice touch. Even though the dining area was packed with both adults and children, the noise level, even for us seniors, was such that conversation was very easy. I would definitely return and would have given it five stars except for our our servers unfriendly manner.
(4)Jessica N.
Definitely the best Italian restaurant in Boise. To start with, our waitress from the very beginning was everything you hope to have in a waitress. Soft, sweet, pleasant, pleasing, knowledgable and everything else wonderful. She spent the first 20 minutes happily helping us pick the right wine and beer for our tastebuds, providing us great recommendations and enough samples to help us choose. We picked out an appetizer (stuffed mushrooms :) and our meals (all delicious). I chose the chicken Parmesan. A simple common dish that I happen to love (with Alfredo instead of marinara) not only because I love it, but when dining at a new place I like to pick the classic favorites to see how a chef creates a dish that is made everywhere. My first taste was when I lifted my spoon out of the homemade garlic Alfredo sauce and just that alone had me feeling so happy that I refuse to eat my own homemade Alfredo sauce from here on. Our waitress brought over a simple fine cheese grater and I triangular cut piece of fresh Parmesan cheese and coated our dishes in as much as we pleased. Everyone at the table was so pleased, we even ordered a dish to take home with us (aside from our left overs) and three desserts as well. My food coma is setting in real nice rice now, so I leave you with a simple.. Try Luciano's Take your family And tip your waiter/waitress well.
(5)Beth C.
I am sorry to have to rate this a 2 star, and it is really more of a 2.5 star. It was our first visit to Luciano's and maybe I built it up in my head and had too high of expectations after reading all the great reviews. Cons: -No reservations, so on weekends there are long waits (45+minutes). The waiting area is terrible, a tiny hallway next to the bar with everyone standing on top of each other. I got claustrophobic and decided to wait outside. -The ambience was a little lacking. Tables close together, crowded, loud. -Service is inconsistent and slow. We tried to order our entrees at the same time as the appetizers to get things moving and our waiter refused to take the entrée order. Told us "I'm really busy, I'll come back and get it." He seemed overwhelmed with his number of tables on a busy Saturday night. He also seemed annoyed with our questions. Service was so slow that the couple at the table next to us, were seated after us and had their leftovers packed in to go boxes before we even got our entrees. -The food was hit or miss. I had the Pallazzo pasta and it was way too briney. Bread with olive oil/basalmic was just so-so. Pros: -The host was very nice. We had called in 30 minutes ahead to get put on the waiting list. He forgot to write down our names. He realized his mistake and got us in right away, which we appreciated. -The snail appetizer was AWESOME. -The manager (owner?) walked around and greeted all the tables which was very nice. -Prices are fair for what you get. In the end, I think we will actually try them again. They have gotten multiple good reviews, so maybe it was just an off night, or we ordered the wrong menu items. We will try them on a NON-WEEKEND and I will update this review after that.
(2)Renee S.
Luciano's has come a long way since our first visits. We ALWAYS have the specials - they are fabulous! Last night we had a potato-crusted salmon with a stuffed pepper and it was *heavenly*! The house wines are delicious. I saw someone's comment that the house salad was soggy. I agree- it USED to be - but now I get one every visit - they really improved on it. Still my favorite Italian restaurant ever!
(5)Dave S.
I'd love to relate my dining experience here but found out the hard way that agreeing to a 'no reservations on valentine's day' scheme is a probably a poor idea. After trying to make reservations a few weeks in advance I was told 'that's not how it works here' by a lunch manager. I was assured that simply phoning in 30 minutes in advance and getting placed on the waiting list was a far superior system. After calling in 45 minutes in advance at the urging of my skeptical wife we arrived to a chaotic scene of dozens of grumpy folks crammed into the small waiting area and the sad news that it would be a 90 minute wait (even with our call in.) Starving and with a sitter on the clock we graciously gave up our spot on the list and headed out. I actually felt worse for the suffering staff than I did for myself, they were trying to put a brave face on things but it was clearly uncomfortable for all. Please consider my advice to change the 'that's not how it works here' idea on reservations for major dining holidays.
(2)Jesse D.
The food was alright. Not great but good. The service is not great either but it is worth a try.
(3)Gary E.
New fav for Italian. AMAZING prices and portions are perfect. Service is fantastic and everyone is so friendly. Definite yes!
(5)Patrick E.
Went on Valentine's Day. Called in at 6 got there at 8 and was seated by 9!! WORTH IIIIIIT!! Love this little place. They even have an awesome little bar in the entrance to keep you entertained while you wait. Service was good and food was better!
(5)Alexa H.
I tried Luciano's for the first time today around 2:30pm with my boyfriend. There were only two other tables when we ordered - two guys that had already eaten and another couple that hadn't ordered yet. You'd think when it's that slow the kitchen would have no excuse to mess up, right? Especially when all you ordered was an appetizer and an entree split. We ordered the clams and the steak sandwich/caesar salad. The salad came out first - It seemed like the caesar dressing had more of a vinaigrette consistency and it was pretty bland. I expected to taste more than romaine lettuce because the dressing is supposedly made in-house. It is possible they under-dressed the salad and used lettuce that was still wet - resulting in a watered down salad of disappointment. Our clams came next. Our server took the cover off of them while we were still eating our salad because we obviously wanted to eat them cold.They ended up being overdone and chewy. The only thing I tasted was a hint of clam and the lemon juice we squeezed on them. They also came with bread, which I used to dip in the broth out of curiosity since the clams were a bust. It tasted like old canned clam juice with a hint of red pepper flakes. Our sirloin steak sandwich had the best flavor out of the three. We ordered it mid-rare and it came with mushrooms, onions and a gorgonzola cream sauce. The gorgonzola sauce was a little runnier then what I had imagined in my head but it was the only thing that contributed to the flavor of this sandwich.As for the steak - Typically the more you cook a steak the more the gristle will break down, so cooks should be looking for more lean cuts of meat for a rare to mid rare order. The steak was very gristly despite being overcooked to mid-well. It was impossible to eat even with the steak knife it came with. It didn't seem like the steak itself was very good quality and/or a few days past it's shelf life anyways, so we each took a few bites before deciding to leave the rest of it sitting on the table until it could make it to the garbage. First and last time here.
(1)Tom G.
OK, I come from LA and love Italian food. As everyone knows Italian among others such as Good Mexican food is very hard to find in the Boise area. Went to Lucianos last night on a friends recommendation, got there at 7:30 and still had to wait 20 min, the place was packed. Tried something simple, (Bruschetta) just to get a feel before dinner. It was perhaps the best I have had! Fresh and full of flavor. Followed up by their house salad and Lasagna, outstanding. Won't be going back to Ginos and Alavita (My favorite) may be in serious trouble as well.
(5)Darby O.
An excellent gourmet experience in Italian dining. The food is perfect and service above and beyond. I really encourage all to try it! The prices are good and fair for the amount of food served. A Boise dining must!
(5)Chris C.
Took my wife for her birthday and had an amazing meal. Our waiter was very professional but still incredibly friendly and courteous. I had the carbonara and she had the penne Luciano. Both were very tasty and even though the restaurant was packed out waiter was on top of anything we needed. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for something outside of the standard box store. If you think the Olive Garden is great, go there and do not bother with this place.
(5)Steve M.
One word: VALUE (not cheap). I am constantly dismayed and disappointed by restaurants in our fair city. Much of the time I leave thinking I could have stayed at home and prepared a meal of much higher quality than what I just paid for. Lucho's was not one of those places. The staff is top shelf, super friendly, and competent. They offered us drinks and sent us off to the yurt outside to enjoy. I absolutely love the idea of the yurt! Although I did have to adjust the heat and open the door as it was a sauna inside. Hot! After sitting for a spell others arrived and sat in the yurt with us. We met and visited with several fine folks and had a delightful conversations. Really, a great experience. The food.... My girl ordered a pasta dish that was very good and well priced at $14. I ordered a NY steak ($26) that came smothered in 2 cheeses and had excellent flavor. The sides were sauteed vegies which were good but out-matched by the steak and the potatoes. They whipped up a sun-dried tomato sauce and drizzle that over the potatoes which were absolutely amazing. The owner seems very much in her element while she walks about the restaurant talking with patrons. She is very charismatic and clearly very passionate about her restaurant. A pleasure to speak with...and she has an interesting story about how the restaurant came to be. Be sure to ask her about it. The bottom line is that a couple could leave Lucho's at a reasonably priced meal for around $45 or so. Two entrees at $14 = $28, plus two glasses of red wine at $8 each = $16 for a total of $44. Although, if you order a full bottle of wine with desert, you could easily double that price. Either way, Lucho's is an excellent value.
(4)Jeremiah S.
It's the best Italian food I've ever had. Generous portions. Authentic Italian atmosphere and food. Perfect place for a family gathering or a romantic date for two :) First visit here and I highly recommend it, as we'll be back. New favorite restaurant! Only downfall is no full bar, just wine and beer.
(5)Cristi C.
The staff was supper friendly but the food was ok. Didn't really like the fettuccine just the shrimp in it. The soup was too salty but tasty. Olive Garden's fettuccine is much better!
(3)Candis S.
Last night as a family, we had one of the best meals we have ever eaten! Everything was fresh, flavorful, authentic and reasonably priced! Luciano's is what the chain restaurants are trying to be. We fed three hungry teenagers and had food to spare! Well done!
(5)Kelly R.
My husband and I found ourselves in Boise for one night so we yelped around for a good spot. We are soooo glad other yelpers took the time to write about Luciano's. It was a perfect spot for a relaxing, casual, delicious Italian meal. The service was excellent - just enough. Our waitress ( we didn't get her name !) was very friendly and knowledgeable. We both got the steak special - steak covered with mushrooms and a Gorgonzola cream sauce - it was really good. It came with fresh veggies and a choice of pasta side dish. Hubby went for fettuccine alfredo and I paid a couple bucks extra for risotto. His side was a tad bit better but both were really good. We each had a dinner salad ( which was good) and we ordered one dessert to go. I had a glass of wine, he ice tea. Bill came to $67 before tip which seemed reasonable for the quality & quantity of food and the great service. I would absolutely go here again the next time we are in town
(5)Justin H.
I am hesitant to go all apenuts on this place. I'm giving it a three-star review because I'm totally conflicted and feel like I need to give it another shot before I can determine where it really stands in my mind. I'll start with the negatives. First, I guess the place had just opened for dinner and there were two large groups waiting to be seated. We got our name in right away and had to wait 10-15 minutes (really, not that bad at all) in their tiny waiting area. I agree with other Yelpers when they say it's cramped and awkwardly close to the bar. I don't mind bars or liquor, but the space was weird. The hostess / bartenders seemed like they didn't want to or didn't know how to interact with their clientele. So we waited, awkwardly, alternating standing and sitting and squeezing by people who were coming to put their name on the list. When we were seated, we noticed the seating area was one giant room; however, we felt totally squeezed in between tables. This made it awkward if you need to get up to use the restroom and awkward for waiters navigating the seating space. So the dining space seemed kind of big and cheap, considering the prices on their menu. The positives. I wish that I remembered our server's name, because he was a gentleman and a total class act. I mean, I think he was more formal / professional than a few waiters I've had at Asiago's, a restaurant I hold in high esteem. The food itself was pretty legit and the menu varied enough that there's something for everyone. I think the large sandwich menu almost cheapens the quality pasta dishes and entrees they have listed. But, hey, this is Boise, ID, not New York, NY, which means you'll inevitably be here with some dude who just wants a beer and a sandwich, not a glass of Chianti, a plate of saltimbocca and a caprese salad. In short, I don't know exactly how to rate this OR a three-star is perfectly appropriate. Either way, I think the restaurant is definitely worth a try, as they have some quality food. I think my qualms lie with the ambiance and the price one pays when eating here.
(3)Taylor W.
The food was pretty good, for Boise. I was pleased to be eating somewhere that wasn't a chain. Service was fantastic, even though it was busy. One of the owners was walking through the place, shocking in on guests and making sure there experience was a positive one. Quaint and cozy atmosphere. I'd go there again for sure.
(4)Irina V.
A hidden gem, best place to dine on the Bench!!! The bread is amazing and so is the staff. Will visit next time I'm in that part of town.
(5)Jaime J.
My husband and I love this place - best Italian in Boise. The owner is fabulous as well - if Bev is there spend some time with her because she's a hoot.
(5)Camilla H.
Great restaurant! Very authentic and great portions for a good price!! Love this place and will not be going back to Olive Garden-it was that good!
(5)Scott A.
I had great service at your restaurant. And the food was amazing. But not able to take Amex sucked. On a trip and need to use that card. I will not eat there again because of this!!!!!
(3)Kaily O.
Amazing food amazing service but DO NOT come on a holiday, call ahead does not work as advertised I called at 5 and I had to wait until 9 pm calling ahead also. Super romantic just not on a holiday. Food was worth the wait.
(5)Julie E.
I met a group of friends at Luciano's for a bridal shower dinner. I was thrilled to see that the location (which has housed multiple attempts are eateries in the past) has finally garnered a "Keeper". I knew from the aromas in the air when I stepped in that Luciano's was going to be a winner. They don't appear to have a separate space for groups, so we were seated at three long tables. The lights were low, candles were burning and when I arrived bread along with plates of olive oil and balsamic vinegar were out for nibbling. Drinks and wine had been ordered. Three of us were the last to arrive. We were seated with our group and began looking at the menu. We did have a bit of difficulty getting a server to come by and take our drink orders, but he was flagged down eventually. (a member of our party DID go and have a word with the manager about how attentive our server had been (or rather not to that point) and ti was remedied. Some samples of wine had been brought out, I had the pleasure of trying a Huckleberry wine. The bread was amazing, with or without the dipping oil/vinegar. It would have been VERY easy to fill up on. I ordered the Seafood Fettuccine. I was wonderfully happy to find all of the seafood to be delectably tender. Shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels. The Alfredo sauce cheesy, garlicky and thick. I did not hear a word of displeasure about any of the food from anyone in our party, just lots of happy sounds and calls for to-go boxes! A couple of slices of Turtle Cheesecake were shared for dessert.. another marvelous choice! Quality does not come cheaply. I would like to check out Luciano's for lunch some day. But a special occasion in the future will definitely have me considering a return trip to Luciano's.
(4)David A.
Really good Italian food here. Inside the restaurant is really nice. The owner is so funny and nice too. I love coming here!
(4)Jenni M.
Luciano's is hands down probably the best Italian restaurant in the Boise area. One of the few places that serves veal. Sometimes the service can be a little slow, but that is a given at every restaurant. Often this place is packed so make sure you get there early enough to get some parking & parking kind of sucks because of the location right off Orchard, but that is the only real complaint about this place!
(5)Nicholas R.
For the Bench, this is a rather nice establishment. I debated on whether or not to compare it to the downtown Italian establishments, and in the end decided to keep it to the Bench alone, and base the review more heavily on the food aspect. If I could give them 3.5 stars, I would. The food is consistently good (with the exception of the garlic bread, which I find to be rather boring), the service is good, and the ambiance is good. It's all...good. Cucina de Paulo's is the only other Italian restaurant worth considering in the Bench area, and I'd consider their food to be of higher quality, hence the 4 vs 3 stars in my reviews. Luciano's is certainly worth a visit, and gives you good value at prices below that of what you would find downtown. For a dish to try, I've recently enjoyed the Chicken Marsala on the specials (which, oddly, have been specials for about half a year?) menu. Be warned, it does get very busy in the evening on weekends.
(3)Joe R.
If homestyle Italian is your thing, you'll love this place. The service, food, parking and prices are all awesome. Will definitely be back!
(4)David S.
I have visited this restaurant on two seperate occasions now, overall it's great. Unassuming quaint little location that looks entirely to small, a wonderful surprise once you go inside! The pasta is delicious "according to my wife who eats it" on the first trip I ordered the make your own pizza and I thought it was great. My reasons for not reading it five star, their sandwiches are a bit bland, I had the Philly cheese steak and I wasn't happy to finish it. Also I do not drink and don't care to be around alcohol, in order to enter you have to crowd into the bar area to wait for your table. Over all though, the waiting in the bar is worth the table at such a fine restaurant, excluding the sandwiches the food is great, and the service and ownership are second to none. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for Italian food
(4)Dave W.
This restaurant is head and shoulders about the chaing restaurant "OG" (shudder), and is even better than Carino's (albeit with inferior bread). I've kept my eye on this place wondering whether it would stay open for long. It appears that their longevity is to to meeting the hype. I LOVED my meal, and enjoyed the atmosphere and the service. I ordered The Gabriel- "Chicken, prosciutto, garlic, crushed red chilies and mixed bell peppers in a creamy vodka tomato sauce. Tossed with penne and parmesan...$12" and was impressed. The dish had a good balance of flavors, and I liked the overall level of spiciness. Also, I didn't detect the prosciutto, meaning it was incorporated well into the dish. I liked how the pieces of chickens were like "medallions" rather than strips cut on the bias from a chicken breast. Although others have raved about the "appetizer bread" served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, I wasn't impressed. I thought the bread was a cross between focaccia and a hamburger bun. I'd rather have some type of sourdough bread. When I asked the server whether there were some dried pieces of garlic or other seasonings to add to the oil/vinegar mixture, I literally got a response of "now.. what?" in her best 20-something voice. (sigh). Short answer- no. you get olive oil and balsamic, period. (Perhaps butter would have been a good alternative?) This place is a must for those who like good Italian food. I can't wait to try to go back and try another dish. I'm not easily impressed with restaurant meals, but I really like this place.
(5)Rod W.
Not the greatest location but well worth it. Best and most authentic Italian food in the Treasure Valley.
(4)Matt D.
My wife and I were so pleasantly surprised eating here. Previously, our favorite Italian restaurant in Boise was Gino's but it has been replaced by Luciano's. This little hole-in-the-wall, family friendly-type restaurant has excellent, friendly service, amazing prices, and most importantly, delicious Italian food. This place has become one of our regular spots to go out on date nights. The only negative thing that I can say about this place was their wine selection. The prices for their wine were great, but their selection was not near as impressive as Gino's. However, considering the location and the atmosphere that is not too surprising.
(5)Anne S.
Yum. A local recommended this lovely little place. I had the spaghetti bolognese and it was delicious! The bread was fantastic too! Also had the tiramisu...she said it was homemade and it was very good. Super friendly service and the Only downside was the Pinot noir tasted like communion wine...
(5)Kendra K.
The short review: Great restaurant with fantastic food, service, and atmosphere. Highly recommend. The long review:: I lived less than half a mile away from Luciano's for over a year, and I never took the time to see what they had to offer. That was certainly a mistake! I went to Luciano's tonight for a celebratory dinner with my sister and boyfriend, and we could not be more pleased. All of the food we ordered was delicious and reasonably priced. The complimentary bread was everything I dream about while craving carbs - the inside was soft and warm, and the outside was crispy and perfectly seasoned. If I could realistically survive off bread, I would choose this bread. For our appetizer, we went with the brie plate. The brie was just as magical as you could hope - the cheese was melted throughout, the pastry was crunchy, and the accompanying apples and roasted garlic were delightful. In fact, my boyfriend and I discussed the idea of returning solely for the brie plate. While I honestly cannot remember the names of anything we ordered, I can say with certainty that all three entrees were fantastic. We all ordered different variations of penne dishes with chicken, and I would be happy to eat all three of them again. Finally - the dessert. We ordered a piece of turtle cheesecake to share, and it was the perfect ending to a great meal. If you enjoy pecans, caramel, and chocolate, you would be remiss to not give this a try. Additionally, the service was fantastic. Our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and set on us having a good experience. As for cons, there are few. However, as addressed in other reviews, the parking is fairly atrocious and the restaurant is small. We were surprised to find that restaurant was full on a Tuesday evening, but we were able to be seated within 10 minutes. The wait would likely be much longer on a Friday or Saturday evening.
(5)sizzle G.
This was a great dinner! Falisha our waitress was kind prompt and knowledgable. Good portions. The bread is delish!!
(5)Jennifer O.
All I can say is I LOVE Luciano's!!!! Everything was great about this place. We were the first ones thru the door as soon as it opened and they were ready for our big group of people the waiter remained cool and calm even after my nephew tipped over the decorative center piece which contained water,oil and fresh flowers he just scooped up the mess changed the table cloth and went on without skipping a beat awesome place
(5)Aspen R.
This is the first time I have tried Luciano's. I do love good Italian food so after reading some great yelp reviews, I thought I'd give it a try. It was packed on a Wednesday night, I was surprised by this but that only told me one thing...great food! After getting a table, the waiter immediately brought hot crispy bread (yum!!) and greeted us with a smile. The cypress salad was simple yet delicious and the lobster bisque: creamy tomato goodness with a slightly spicy undertone that complimented the lobster nicely. The seafood risotto was amazing! Perfectly cooked and a delicious array of crab, shrimp, scallops, and mussels...wow! And of coarse there was desert. The creme coto was a rich, thick and heavenly custard; nicely accompanied by a few fresh raspberries and blueberries. Give this place a try. If you leave hungry or unhappy, you might want to have your head examined!
(5)Donn E.
Best Italian food on Boise by far. Place is small and difficult to get a seat, but well worth it.
(5)Patty F.
Nice enough, I suppose. Ate there for first time 2 weeks ago. Very annoyed by the 3 flies buzzing the window. Restaurants should not have flies! I cannot say I'll be back due to that.
(2)Danish I.
The service, food, and Ambiance are great. This spot is a totally delicious local gem! Be sure to give it a try. The bread is amazing, angel hair pasta is rich fresh and Delish!
(4)Megan S.
The service was excellent, along with the food. It is worth the prices, even though they are a little spending. You do get your money's worth. I will be going again.
(5)Luke M.
Dont be deceived by the reviews. "Meh" at best. Waited 45 minutes for glorified mac n' cheese. Wasted dining experience.
(1)Shannon L.
Solid, but not outstanding. We showed up early to find a mostly empty dining room. Still had to wait several minutes for a booth to be ready. The bread was delicious but when questioned the server told us that it was not baked in house and didn't know where it came from. This was typical of the service - just slightly off. A little slow, a little uninformed. Maybe we got someone new to the staff. The food was good. I had the Rosemary Chicken Fromaggio. I didn't taste the rosemary, but as baked mac & cheese with chicken it was tasty. My husband did get the mac & cheese (Quattro Fromaggio) and reviewed it as "good." I'd stop in again if I pass by, but won't go out of my way to revisit.
(3)Rebecca W.
My husband and I came here for a early dinner. The staff was very friendly and sat us down quickly. The bread with olive oil and balsamic came fast and was good. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. It was very tasty and came out hot. My husband commented saying it was the best spinach artichoke dip he has had to date. I forget the name of the dish I ordered, but it was basically the Quattro Fromaggio with rosemary and chicken. It came out still bubbling from the oven. The garlic bread it was served with was delicious. Overall I enjoyed the dish.. It was a very generous portion. I ended up taking the majority of it home with me. My husband ordered the pasta Athena. He says "it was very lemony... Snickett". The dish wasn't bad, but wasn't something he would order again. The lemon was extremely over powering. A good, satisfying meal with great service. Our waiter was the only server working at the time and was doing an excellent job of managing all of his tables.
(3)Chris C.
Great wait staff...nice ambiance...reasonable prices...and GREAT FOOD....from the bread to the main course I was completely satisfied...first time, and will visit again!
(5)John B.
5 star food. Real Italian ambiance. Candle lit wine bottles really set the mood food taste great and 4.50 Guinness
(5)Bijaya P.
This place is fantastic and is the best Italian food I have come across so far in Boise.. I had the lunch special pesto Linguini with some shrimps added to it and it was divine.. ..The complimentary bread was so fresh too..I am so full now but I still debating on whether to have to Tiramisu or not? I am sure it will turn out to be yummy as all their deserts are in house made..Let's support Local restaurants and help them stay in business..
(5)Kim H.
Pleased with our dinner and the service ! My wife and I ate here for the first time, I had the special, an Italian Sausage and red pepper arribbiata - spicy and very good! My wife had the the Rose Fromaggio and she thought it was a little too salty but very good flavor otherwise. Additionally, after we left!, she said it was a little dry. I am sure they would have provided a little more sauce had she asked... This was her first time trying a Fromaggio and perhaps that is normal. Our sever Angie did an excellent job, providing great service and a friendly smile. We arrived on a Tuesday night around 5:30 and it was about 25% full! rising to over 50% by 6:30 with more cars arriving.
(4)Jeremy M.
Good for at great prices. The location is lacking but it is worth it. To the guy that said there is no Luciano, there is! He is a former notorious ganster. Salvatore Lucania was born on November 24, 1897. He moved to America and called himself Luciano. He was known as a fair and level to fellow gang members. It is a very interesting story if you ever have time to look it up. Lucianos is good food.
(4)Seth N.
The food is 5 stars, but service is 3 stars. Having said that, I don't think the service was just okay because they don't care, I think they were just over whelmed!! It was slammed when we got there! The food is excellent! And the wine list was better than I thought it would be. In short, I'll be going back. This place is a gem in the rough. And one day could really shine!
(4)Ernest H.
My wife and I have eaten there numerous times and have always loved the food and service. Gets a bit crowded. Good prices
(5)Dave S.
If like the CHAIN Italian restaurants don't go here. My wife and have lived in the valley over 40 years and we've seen a lot of restaurants come and go. We hope this one is here to stay.I rarely rate a restaurant with 5 stars. We had the stuffed mushrooms, lasagna, chicken parmigiano. A Germany reisling, and for desert, Tiramisu. We found everything reasonably price and portions more than adequate. We will differently be back. But there's always room for improvement. ...they need to install a water purification system. ..water there is terrible.
(5)Mick P.
Lobster Bisque was barely warm and tasted more like spicy tomato soup. Pasta ala Vongole tasted of nothing, partner said the same about his. Assemble cheese, spices, herbs, bacon, mushroom on a plate and you would think it would tasted of SOMETHING but no, the 'above table taste dampening field' kicked in and it tasted of nothing. I don't think I could achieve that if I tried. Very strange. Not coming back
(2)P B.
Love Luciano's. Best Italian restaurant not only on the Bench, but also in the Treasure Valley. Wonderful pasta, pizza, bread, Caesar salad, cioppino, tiramisu. What more can I say? Oh, the wine list is wonderful! Don't miss out!
(5)Terri D.
Very good Italian. Everything we tried tasted homemade, unlike some local chain restaurants that you can tell just pop frozen pre-made food in the microwave. We had the spinach and artichoke dip which was rich and delicious. It comes with toasted buttered baguette slices and was absolutely delicious. Very rich and creamy, and absolutely too decadent to eat very often. For dinner I had the Puttanesco (sp?), which is capers, anchovies, olives, and tomatoes over spaghetti. It was very flavorful and good and my partner really liked it too, but I would have liked a few more tomatoes and olives and a little less anchovies. Personal taste of mine, but I would order the dish again. My partner had the veal piccata and he said it was absolutely delicious. It was lemony and served over linguine. The portions are very hearty. We each ate less than half our meal and enjoyed the remainder for lunch the next day. The bread is to die for. They served a hearty square of rosemary bread with olive oil & balsamic while we waited for our meal. Fresh, hot, and exactly right. Then the garlic bread served with our pasta was equally good, though much richer and very buttery. A nice contrast. The server was very pleasant and solicitous, and anticipated our needs. The parking lot was completely full on a Friday night and we anticipated a wait, but they had a table available and we were seated right away. It was very busy but the service was spot on. We absolutely will go back. It has become a new favorite.
(4)Scott M.
First time dining at this restaurant. Group of six for dinner. No wait, service was very prompt and professional. I usually avoid house wine, but theirs was tremendous. All dishes were great, but Puttenesca was especially unique and tasty. Highly recommended.
(5)Kyle M.
When I first pulled up to the restaurant I had some doubts but then when I walked in I was pretty amazed. don't judge a book by its cover on the outside but what's on the inside. I also had a awesome food for really cheap price it was really good I had a great experience. I don't really like Italian food but Luciano's has really good Italian food appetizers drinks just everything it's the only Italian place I actually recommend.
(5)Caleb E.
Have gone a handful of times since it opened in November of 2012...amazing food for a more than reasonable price. Great service and the satisfaction that you're eating local and not a chain like Olive Garden. Usually quality places like this get popular and thus there is a high demand especially on weekends, so one can only expect it to have longer waits during the rush hours. Goes to show how fantastic it is :-) kudos to Luciano's!
(5)Kevin Q.
Dinner tonight was delicious. I had the Cioppino and my date had the Pasta Alfredo. Both meals did not disappoint. Very tasty. There was about a 30 minute wait, but well worth it. We enjoyed a couple of drinks while we waited to be seated. Beverly the owner was very nice, engaged in discussion with us. Beverly also brought out a basket of garlic bread for all of us waiting to enjoy. Great place, service was awesome. Has quickly become a favorite, looking forward to going back.
(5)Mary A.
We tried this restaurant for the first time last evening. We joined friends who had been here before and had good dining experiences. Upon entering this space there is not much to impress---you enter into a bar area on the left and approach a kitchen with a swinging door. It's an odd layout, but once going into the dining space the impression changes. It's very informal, but inviting, with tables for two, four, and more. The service was very prompt and friendly. We ordered San Pelligrino and a bottle of red wine to share. As to the dinner: My husband ordered Fettucine Alfredo and I ordered Spaghetti Carbonara. Our friends had Veal Piccata. I also ordered a cup of minestrone, which unlike a lot of minestrones I've tasted had a nicely seasoned tomato flavored broth, vegetables, and orzo instead of the larger pastas that are typical. I haven't been to many Italian restaurants that offer Carbonara, and it takes some effort to make a good dish. This Carbonara was excellent with just enough pancetta along with the olive oil, cream and egg to make it lightly coated and flavorful. I tasted my husband's Fettucine and it was very good and creamy as well. Our friends enjoyed the Veal and said it was very tender. We ended the meal with two orders of Spumoni shared and enjoyed. Ice cream desserts are always a nice finish to pasta dishes. When we arrived at this restaurant nearly all the tables were filled. I think that's remarkable on a Thursday evening so obviously this little Italian restaurant is popular. I know that we will definitely return and sample some more of this good food!
(4)Eric H.
For some reason, some mother fuckers deleted my previous review of 5 stars. I explained in great detail the erotic experience I had with my dish, and it was a very thought out and passionate review. So for that fuck you Luciano's, you're food blows. Apparently all anyone In idaho knows is pizza and burgers, cause good luck finding any decent restaurant that isn't American food.
(1)Brindi B.
Best lunch in our area if you are in the mood for Italian. Nice atmosphere and good service. Wedneday's special clam linguini with clams steamed in the shell, lemon, white wine and garlic....cannot beat it. Reasonable prices too!
(5)Joy S.
I had pretty high hopes due to the reviews. The food was good, not spectacular. We had the snails to start and they were the best part of the meal. The salads were over dressed and kind of soggy. The pasta was ever so slightly over cooked. It didn't have the feel of freshness that I hoped for. The service was very slow and didn't seem to match the level of experience that the owner is going for. My recommendation is only go if you are in the neighborhood.
(2)John G.
We gave Luciano's a rather scathing review when we tried them the first week of opening. My wife convinced me to try them again so we went tonight and it was a wonderful experience. Luciano's was buy and we had to wait 10 minutes but we were seated in time. My wife had the sSpghetti Three Ways with 3-meatballs and I had the Marcello Chicken Linguine with Cajun sause - both were excellent. The house Cabernet and Merlot were good, too. We highly recommend Luciano's!! Doc & Sheri Guerrero
(5)Linzi A.
Service was slow, they brought me the wrong dish, but the food was pretty good and portions huge! I would say this fare is typical to American-Italian food that you could find at most places, but for the price and portions it's not a bad dining experience. Just be prepared to wait a while for your food.
(3)Kevin R.
Very good food. The table bread was outstanding. We saw that they had snails and HAD to try it. It was good. My girlfriend, who was very scared of them, found she liked them. We had grinders for lunch. Her Chicago was good. My French dip was a little over-cooked in the meat department. It was good though. I would definitely have it again. I also look forward to trying some other yummy things on their menu. The only real bad, was the service. The waiter was a younger guy, and and he did ok, but not great. It is a little annoying to not have a bit more attentive staff, especially when there are at least 2 servers for 5 tables. I want to point out, there were some hiccups... but I WILL be eating here again. I liked the ambiance, I liked the food, even though some could be a bit better... and I just like the selection.
(4)Dana M.
One word yum-o-roni. Luciano's was great last night. I had the pesto linguine and my boyfriend had fettuccine alfredo with chicken. The noodles were cooked perfectly and I thought my sauce coated them nicely. My boyfriend's alfredo sauce was delicious, he just wished his portion was a little bigger. The prices are amazing and our server was attentive and helpful. I think this place has paid attention to their recent poor reviews in service (i.e. Boise Weekly) and are working hard to change that around. The manager asked multiple times how we were doing and if we needed anything. I think we will visit Luciano's many times in the future. Great place!
(4)Diane D.
Cannot say enough about the food and service tonight at Luciano's. The food is obviously cooked with expertise and caring. I am so happy to have found this little gem on the Bench in Boise! New favorite place, I think we are going to become best friends :)
(5)Chris A.
I had an excellent experience dining here. The waitress was very good and did a great job pairing wine and dinner as well as dessert with a great chocolate stout. This may be my new favorite Italian joint.
(5)Angie C.
Absolutely delicious! We ordered take out and the service was very quick and super friendly! I think we found our new favorite Italian place! I had the sirloin blue salad. Fantastic! Mmmmm
(5)Elizabeth O.
We had high hopes heading into Luciano's. We are big Italian food fans and prefer to eat local whenever possible, but have to save up our pennies for some of the best local Italian around Boise. So, since this place was on the bench, we were expecting a lower price point, and hoping for good food. Luciano's more than delivered in both those aspects. Just to give an example, their Veal Piccata is only $14. My prima vera was $10. Salads are $2.50 extra which still makes a full meal a great deal. But more importantly, it was also the best prima vera I've ever had. The garlic cream sauce was decadent and flavorful, while not overpowering the delicious vegetables, cooked to perfection. And orange peppers were a surprising and very amazing addition to the traditional prima vera mix. The included garlic bread wasn't spectacular, but the house salads were very good, and the dressing is high quality. The before dinner-foccacia bread was amazing. My fiance ordered the gorgonzola pasta with chicken and also loved it. Some places way overdo the blue cheese in these sauces but here it was just right - a strong taste without overpowering your entire head with pungent flavor. Perfect! The menu is more casual-italian but includes several upscale dishes. The sandwiches sound amazing and pizza is available, too. (Exactly what our family likes.) There is also a cute bar at the entrance which would be perfect for an after work drink and apps. To be honest, the decor is a tiiiny bit cheesy, and I'm hoping they will do something with that fast-food-esq window into the parking lot. But who cares, really? We're on the bench! And it's awesome! We didn't have to drive 45 minutes or pay $20 a plate and it's still uber-delicous! Super victory, in my book. Can't wait to go back and try more items, if I can pull myself away from that incredible prima vera.
(4)Laura S.
The service was friendly and attentive. The food leaves a lot to be desired. My chicken dish was a pound of pasta and a little bitt of chicken. Flavor was Meh. The side salad was okay. I won't return.
(2)Jacob L.
This was the fest time that we have eaten here. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was fantastic! Our server was very knowledgeable and sweet. I highly recommend this restaurant. The bread they serve while you wait will make you want to steal the baker!
(5)Debbie P.
This was my first time at Luciano's. Stopped for a quick dinner with a friend, on a Saturday evening. We arrived about 5:30 pm which was a good time to get there. The parking lot appeared fairly full, but when we went in, they seated us right away at a nice table next to the window. The bread they start you off with was fresh, warm and wonderful. I ordered Seafood Alfredo and my friend ordered a Philly Steak sandwich and a dinner salad. The Seafood Alfredo was very good and a very substantial portion. The seafood and pasta were both cooked nicely, and not overcooked. The Alfredo sauce was exceptional. They used a lot of butter and herbs which made it much better than the usual heavy cream, boring Alfredo sauce. The sauce really made the dish special. My friend said his sandwich was good, but complained about the size. It was half the size of a normal Philly Steak Sandwich, and a little skimpy for the $8 or so price. His dinner salad was better than average. They use fresh greens, not iceberg lettuce, and a nice dressing, not too much. I then ordered my all time favorite desert, Crème Brulee, and was disappointed. It did not have the usual thickness and richness one expects in this desert, and bordered on being a pudding rather than a brulee. A real letdown. I wished I'd ordered one of the other offered deserts which included a huge piece of decedent looking chocolate cake with whipped cream, and a berry crumble with ice cream. Both looked wonderful. The overall service for the evening was fine until toward the end. Our server was very friendly and started off well, but as the night progressed and she got busy, she started to neglect us, I had to wait for the desert for at least 10 minutes (which now that I think of it, may have been the kitchen's fault because they have to flame the Brulee sugar). Then we waited for our bill for another 20 minutes. My friend was afraid to give her his credit card for the bill because we wondered how long THAT would take. Luckily she came right back. I will give them that it was a Saturday night, and after we arrived, the place filled up fast. I suspect on a slower night the service would have been better. Overall we enjoyed our meal and I will definitely go back, but probably not on a Saturday night.
(3)Heather C.
Nice local non-chain Italian restaurant with a large menu selection, including pizza, pasta, salad. Beer & wine available. Take out or dine in.
(4)Eric W.
EXCELLENT! Best Italian Restaurant in town. Service was quick & extremely polite. Comfy cozy table and felt much like home. I live in Las Vegas and was hesitant to try. Will definitely be back next time. Thanks.
(5)Jamie S.
Great local Italian! Prices are decent and the food is excellent! Rare find for Boise.
(5)Joyce B.
Meh. At Best. Pettanusca was horrible. Sardines were so macerated they could not be tasted. The spice was so high you couldn't taste anything else. I asked for extra garlic, but it wasn't forthcoming. I asked for a roasted garlic on the side after the entree, but it took forever, like they've never roasted a garlic before. My husband's scampi was tasteless and not at all flavorful. The best part was the focassia and garlic bread. The service was wonderful. Was a Friday night and easily seated, but not worth it.
(2)