Lucia Ristorante
415 Hanover St, Boston, MA, 02113
Lucia Ristorante Menu
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Lunch - Antipasto
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Lunch - Secondi
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Lunch - Dolce
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Antipasto
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Secondi
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Dolce
Healthy Meal suggestions for Lucia Ristorante
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Lunch - Antipasto
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Lunch - Secondi
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Lunch - Dolce
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Antipasto
-
Secondi
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Dolce
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
415 Hanover St
Boston, MA, 02113 - Phone (617) 367-2353
- Website https://www.luciaboston.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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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Nicole B.
the food deserves a 3. they're pretty average. you can go just about any place else in the north end and get the same thing, if not better. however, i am wiling to make this a 3.5 due to their panna cotta...yummy yummy! service was also a 3. average. nice, friendly, but nothing over the top. price: it's one of the best priced dinner places in the north end. probably because they know it cannot compare to most other places there. also, because it is rarely packed. i've always been able to get seated right away (this again probably has to do with other places being better). also...that panna cotta. delish!
(3)Liz B.
I really enjoyed my dinner here recently. My boyfriend and I went with another couple. Our table was ready upon arrival. Thankfully, they had valet service, so we didn't have to find a place to park on Hanover Street. There isn't a big waiting area, so I wouldn't arrive too early before a reservation, unless you don't mind waiting outside. The tables were super close together, which is a pain when you're trying to get in and out of your seat. The waiter at first seemed like he was trying to rush us through dinner, but then he was fine. I did notice he had A LOT of tables to tend to, which could have been why he was hurrying with us. The food (the most important part) was great. Our party had bruschetta, gnocchi, chicken and eggplant parmigiana and a chicken dish w/ artichokes and olives. We went on a Sunday evening at 6pm and the place was packed, a great sign!
(4)H L.
I kind of suspected this might not be the right place to eat while in North End when I saw their website with menu. It wasn't too inspiring. It is relatively a big place with 3 level dining floors but a tiny little men's room in the basement of 6'x7' and they crammed in 2 urinals neck to neck and a shallow cubicle and 2 mini sinks-it was really embarrassing to stand next to another guest as there is no privacy whatsoever. The food we had was Italian style salads with cured meat, pasta, pollo marsala, veal, eggplant rolls. It sounds yummy but the taste wasn't consistent. Some were well-made, but salad and the eggplant were bland, especially, the frying oil from the eggplants tastes like it was used for over a week. I was not impressed with any of the food we had, especially when I expect better authentic Italian quality in North End- This wasn't my choice but I was invited. Tacky decor of mirror tricks and dark lighting is something from early 90s but it cannot beat other popular locations with upscale decors or simply with better foods. However, the ice cream dessert and the coffee were excellent and the friendly host at the door and the well-trained Italian Waiter did their job well. But, the other waiter serving our group was a Mexican looking and did not speak English at all in the entire night.
(2)Neha P.
Food was okay. Nothing special, have tasted better... and def. not worth the price!! To top the reasoning for the two stars: well, our waitress was good, very accommodating to our needs, however the manager at the door was very rude! The whole time, she was staring at me while I ate and never broke a smile. We're very nice people, and did not give her any reason for that type of behavior. So in summary, will not be returning to that restaurant... EVER!!
(2)Tim C.
One of the more accommodating places to eat in the North End, Lucia is located right across the street from the Paul Revere statue near the Old North Church. Prices are generally between $10-$14 per entree, yet it should be noted if you would like a side order of broccoli it will cost you an additional $6.50. Yes, six dollars and fifty cents. That aside, the one occasion I dined there the staff put together a couple of tables to seat the party of eight I was with, and the service was quick and smooth. The food won't knock your socks off, but it is certainly above average, and that's saying a lot for Boston Italian food. I enjoyed my meal quite a bit and was left wanting more, which might indicate the portions could be a little larger, though it didn't seem to be a problem for anyone else. The restaurant itself is rather small but quaint, with a room-wide mural spanning the ceiling. ...There are also a lot of mirrors, though, so don't worry if you fear you will be claustrophobic.
(4)Bonnie M.
The food was very good. The hostess was kinda rude and unprofessional, the waitress was a bit dim. I had the lobster ravioli, very good. The only problem really was the valet which is why I didn't give it a higher rating. We didn't assume it was free valet but a lot of places are free valet..so we d didn't know what to expect. It was $20. So we had a little sticker shock and said 'wow $20?' The valet said 'what? Did you think it complementary?' And he said it in a mocking tone that we didn't appreciate..and on top of it he backed the car up 4 feet from where we parked and we discovered they didn't even lock the car. When they retrieved the keys for us they took them off the floor and handed them to us. I know it was close but do you really think they were watching it the whole time? How hard would it be for $20 to lock up and hold onto the key? Needless to say I won't be valet parking there again but I would eat there again.
(3)Stellina M.
First of all the staff at Lucia is probably among the best trained in town! Hats up to the owner who knows her job...The food is good, the ambiance is very romantic. Try their homemade pasta! The frescoes are not as many as the ones at Filippo but still beautiful.
(4)Jill C.
A small but appealing family-run Italian restaurant in the North End. We were greeted by the friendly proprietor and offered a seat in the bar while we waited for our guest, who arrived promptly. We only had to wait a couple of minutes for our table in the window across from the fire station. Great people watching location. Drinks were brought promptly, and the waitress asked several times, rather insistently, if we wanted starters. We were busy talkiing and hadn't had time to peruse the menu properly, but she hovered until we made our selection, rather than offering to come back a few minutes later. I definitely felt rushed. The entrees arrived a very short time later - we each remaked on fast it had been. We had the pesto gnocchi, the chicken/eggplant parmagiana and the veal piccata. We were each pleased with our selections which were hot, tasy and nicely presented. The waitress continue to hover and whisked away the empty plates the moment we were finished, leaving our guest still working on her plate while ours had disappeared. Although we each felt that the quality of the good was good and the atmosphere was pleasant, we felt decidedly rushed. They seemed eager to turn the tables at least one more time that night !
(4)Robyn R.
Hey, we had a great experience at Lucia, partly because it was our last night in Boston and we were hoping for something great, and it actually was great. When you've heard wonderful things about the North End and walk up and down the street searching for restaurants and eventually pick one almost at random, and then it's just okay, as happened the previous night, you get antsy about what will happen on your last evening out. And then you stop into Lucia sort of accidentally because it looks like you can get seated right away, and it lives up to expectations! Yay! I was fixated on papardelle that night and actually got to have it--always nice to satisfy a craving. Plus our waiter was super cool and laid back and managed to sell me (a penny pincher who rarely drinks) a $12 glass of sangria. Good for vegetarians, good overall.
(5)Larry O.
Wandering through the North End, I found this restaurant on the quieter end of the street. The service was quick and very friendly. The waiter was very attentive and charming, and the atmosphere was very cozy and clean. The place is on the small side, but does not feel it as it has many mirrors and murals on the walls. The food was delicious, and I highly reccomend it to anyone with a craving for italian.
(5)Catherine E.
I've been to Lucia's twice - the first time I remember loving it. The second time, I wasn't disappointed, but wouldn't say I was impressed either. The first time I had lunch, sat downstairs, and had chicken parm. The second time I had dinner, sat upstairs, and had penne primavera. First and foremost, the service was excellent. I had made a reservation, and they were ready as soon as we came in. Our waiter was also very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Overall the food was good, but the atmosphere upstairs confused me. The ceiling is suppose to be a replica of the Sistine Chapel, but it felt almost cartoonish to me. I felt as if I were in an Italian-themed restaurant and not an authentic Italian eatery. I was also disappointed that they were out of Spumone - but impressed they had it on the menu. I will certainly give Lucia's another shot, but I think there are many other restaurants in the North End that outshine it.
(3)Brian G.
Great service, very friendly staff and good food. It is not the best food in the North End but the people and attitude of this place make it my favorite sit down Italian place to go to in the North End. They have solid calamari, veal and chicken parm as well. Donato the owner makes sure to make all the customers feel like a high roller, if you are looking to impress someone on a date or look like a North End insider come to Lucia.
(4)Andrew S.
Awesome, but it's no Massimino's (Endicott St. in North End).
(4)Kelly W.
Went here for dinner last week and it was great. I had the chicken marsala and the two people I was with got the chicken parmesan and maccheroni chitarra (homemade egg pasta). Also, our waiter was very attentive. We went during Restaurant Week and they were supposed to be participating, but there was no special menu.
(4)Kristen D.
I've been to this restaurant several times over the last four years and it's pretty much changed how I think of italian food. Don't get me wrong, I've been to some fantastic places for dinner, but Fillippo's has to be the best. First of all, I love the decor - it shows that the owner has so much pride in his restaurant. The first time I went here, the owner himself sat our group and made small talk until the server came over. Our server was wonderful - when my mom asked what was good, he answered by asking what she was in the mood for and out came a signature dish created to my mom's tastes that evening. The food is fantastic and you can tell it's created with a lot of care by the people who work there. Always hot and fresh and yummy tasting. Desserts are to die for. I dont live in Boston anymore but whenever I'm there, I try to make a visit here since it more than satisfies my italian carb craving =)
(5)Holly M.
Went here for Restaurant Week... didn't even see the R Week Menu. I looked, I swear...so I decided to just order off the regular menu. Anyway, we got there on time and were seated within 10 minutes of arriving. Kinda frustrating, but everyone was super nice...so it was ok. One thing we noticed right away, NO AC. I mean it was so humid in there we could have steamed some veggies, but no AC on. Wow, kinda hard to eat a hot Italian meal in that kind of heat. Geesh! The service was great, our server was super friendly and quick. Amen cause I thought I was loosing weight as we sat in the sauna. I order something plain and it was quite tasty. My date ordered a huge pasta dish and he seemed extremely pleased. We sat on the main floor and I really did enjoy the Christian murals and paintings. It was cool and felt very old world Italy. Overall, food and service were good. But the heat and the wait lowered the score for me. Ciao!
(3)Michael G.
This place has good Italian food with decent prices. The restaurant's pretty small, but the ambience is nice. The most striking thing is the large religious murals on the walls and ceilings. The place still feels plenty open, though, and not crammed like some other restaurants.
(4)Julia C.
Lucia is very a very nice place to stop by around 7 pm after you have visited the North End. The service is good and fast and you can ask to make you something special and thay will be happy to serve you. Nice wine list. Enjoy.
(4)Alex K.
I have eaten here 4 times and Lucia has clearly gone downhill. We ate there on a recent Saturday night and the food was OK. However the service was quite bad. Bad enough that it was a distraction from the meal..they didn't clear appetizer and entrée plates for 10 minutes after we were done. When my friend ordered a second bottle of wine the waitress opened it and just poured a huge glass for him - didn't allow him to taste it. This is the most basic of all server functions -properly serving wine in an Italian restaurant and she failed big time. They did not refill our water and 4 of us had empty water glasses. Also as someone else said they serve store bought stale cold bread, which is a bad indication of how they see the food. I had a chicken picatta type dish that was just average. Sadly I won't be going back and I can not recommend Lucia for anyone else. The food and service is what you expect at a much cheaper restaurant.
(2)Mike R.
I went to Lucia this past weekend with 3 friends visiting from out of town. Since Giacomo's was full and a line (as per usual on a pleasant Saturday evening, despite the Patriots playoff game) and we were hungry, we kept going up Hanover St. looking for a place. The menu isn't "nouveau" cuisine, but it was excellent standard Italian-American food which is what we were looking for. The service was extremely efficient and friendly, and everyone in my party was happy with their dinner. I had the shrimp cacciatore and the sauce was well done, shrimp were large and not overcooked, and overall was a very pleasant dinner. My only complaint was it wasn't cheap - for a meal that didn't even come with a side salad or anything it was I believe $16.95. The portions were adequate though, and not so much that we left stuffed (which was actually pretty nice - and especially nice since Mike's Pastry is a couple blocks down the street. We didn't even try dessert here since Mike's is AWESOME!) Overall I'd recommend this place - and I'd definitely come back myself.
(4)Katlyn R.
The food was good, but nothing really to write home about. The chicken parm was good, and the tortellini were very good. It didn't blow me away, but my only real complaint was how quickly everything came out. We had barely gotten halfway through our appetizer before our meals came out, which is a major pet peeve of mine. Oh, and there was something floating in my boyfriend's wine. Overall, I probably won't be back, and they should really slow down their service a bit.
(3)Maria P.
My friend and I decided to go to the North End for dinner on a saturday but we both forgot to make reservations. We tried getting seats at about 9 different places before we ended up at Lucia. We were glad that we could get out of the cold and actually be seated at a table so I'm a little biased. The food was surprisingly good however. My friend had the tortellini soup and it was ok. Her salad (I don't remember what it was called) was amazing, the dressing was the best I've ever tasted. I will probably go back just to have this again. I had the veal scaloppini sautéed with mushrooms, it was great. The sauce was amazing, I just had to sop up the leftover sauce with bread (which isn't the greatest by the way). Portions were pretty big, so my friend and I decided to skip dessert. The service wasn't great but the food made up for that. They usually don't have an hour long wait unlike most restaurants on Hanover street, so if you're starving and don't want to wait for another two hours to get a table then go here.
(4)Cliff L.
There's a lot of good restaurants in the North End, and Lucia ranks right up there with them. The food is excellent and the service is great. The stuffed veal chop was to die for. I've been there a couple of times now, and the wait has been reasonable, the added bonus was that they have valet parking for $15. And if that sounds like a "so what" then you've never tried to find a parking spot in the North End on a weekend. Not having the hassle of having to park is just icing on the cake.
(5)Heegs a.
We were sitted on the second floor room. It certainly had the old cheesey Italian feel with all the mirrors and cheese photos pasted all over the walls. I had the chicken parm. It was delicious.
(4)Lia M.
I adore this restaurant. The food is excellent and the prices moderate. None of the staff was unfriendly or snobby, as I have found at other Boston restaurants. It's a bit small, but the murals on the walls are beautiful. The mussels entree (linguine con cozze) is delicious. I had never tried mussels before, and this was a great introduction. Definately a place to try.
(5)Mark D.
A great little Italian restaurant that served a petty tasty lunch. I got the pollo parmesan which was very filling. The booths are a little tight and the service was fantastic.
(4)MaryLee B.
Just back from a great dinner at Lucia. I went with a Meetup Group and since you can have a lot of "no shows" opted not to deal with a reservation. It is a tuesday night and it snowed AGAIN today so I figured we would have no problem getting seated. Mike our server was very accomodating gratiously agreeing to our request for seperate checks. I had pre-selected a Gamberi Arrabiata which is shrimp sautéed with mushrooms, anchovies in a hot spicy sauce and served over a bed of linguine online, and even though it wasn't on the menu, no problem. It was excellent!! All five of us really enjoyed our meals and I would definitely go back to Lucia.
(5)Lauren M.
So, boyfriend and I meet up with his two siblings and all of our significant others in Boston this past weekend, and Lucia's comes up on Open Table as having open reservations for a party of 6 on a Saturday for 7:30. Sold. We got there, and literally didn't wait a single second to be seated. This is the only positive thing I have to say about our experience. We got seated in the very back corner on the top floor, and it was cozy. By cozy I mean it was hot up there and we were close together. And then we waited. To put it in perspective: we arrived at 7:30 sharp, were seated instantly, did NOT order appetizers, and didn't get our food until 8:45. We waited an hour and 15 minutes to get dinner. That's CRAZY! I think our waitress came over like 15 minutes after we had arrived and just brought us water and then left. Ok...thanks, because it was super hot up there on the third floor, but can you just let me order please? And the food was awful! I got the pollo foccacia, which arrived borderline cold, and was two pre-cooked chicken breasts covered with gross cafeteria style melted cheese in an average quality lemon sauce. And for decoration there were like 5 sliced olives right from the can just scattered across the top. My boyfriend got veal parm, which was literally the worst thing in the entire world. It was so dry and chewy, like it had been sitting under the heat lamps for an hour (it probably had been, honestly). He ate like three bites, and then filled up on linguine because he was starving by this point. Another person in our group got the gnocchi, and said it was "alright" but we all agreed that the sauce tasted like it came from a can, and no one's food was even close to hot when it came out. Also, we were so freaking hot the whole time, and everyone's water glasses were always empty! Just leave a pitcher on the table! I think the kicker for me was at the end of the meal, when the waitress finally appeared and asked if we wanted boxes for all of our uneaten food, and we told her it wasn't very good so we wouldn't be taking it home. She literally was just like "Oh, that's unfortunate" and just left. She got the check and did nothing about it. She didn't take anything off the bill, she just sort of looked at us sympathetically. It was really weird. I'm disappointed because the North End is supposed to be the best of the best, and we forked over $250+ to be ignored, overheated, and served lukewarm and ill-prepared food. I will not be going back.
(1)Tom W.
What a great find! We had just visited the North End a couple of days before, so I was surprised that we found ourselves there again. Then we found Lucia's! My wife had linguini vongole (with clams) and enjoyed EVERY bit. She normally will leave 'a little something' on the plate, but not today. My pollo focaccia was amazing. The balance between the chicken, prosciutto and cheese was amazing. My wife even joined in with me to finish mine! You HAVE to stop here when in the North End!
(5)Aman M.
I asked the server to recommend one dish out of the two options, and was expecting her to describe about the two dishes. She had nothing new to add than what was written in the menu. I picked one dish - chicken with asparagus and other vegetables. It was a horrible dish and I did not enjoy my experience there. Even though I was extremely hungry, I ended up finishing half of my dish, and did not even ask them to have it packed to go. Even the bread served in the beginning was served cold! Two thumbs down.
(2)Melanie E.
Some friends and I were wanting to eat in the North End and Lucia was the only place that had availability for a group our size. The hostess told us to wait outside because it was so busy and then she forgot about us. I had to go back in and ask again and they honestly thought they had already seated us. Luckily, they had space for us and we were seated in the cramped dark basement. The service was friendly enough and pretty quick. Salad was nothing to write home about. The menu wasn't too impressive but I figured it was just a typical italian place with a good red sauce. We all ordered and the food came out pretty quick. The food was edible but nothing special. I wouldn't say that it was a memorable meal other than the company we were keeping at the time. Desserts are not worth it either so I suggest you just walk down to Mike's and call it a night.
(3)Samantha L.
After doing some research on a restaurant that serves desserts in North End, I decided to go with Lucia Ristorante, which is located on the quieter side of Hanover Street. Honestly, it was hard to find a restaurant (with guaranteed seating) that served desserts other than just cannoli's. In addition to iced water, we ordered Port's, hot tea, hot coffee, and a Tropical Sangria. I was surprised that they didn't have a variety of tea to choose from. They just had Lipton Tea. The hot coffee came with cream and sugar. The Tropical Sangria consisted of a blend of white wine, triple sec, coconut rum, absolute vodka, pineapple, cranberry, and orange juices. It was garnished with orange peels and strawberries. I was in for a sweet treat. For dessert, we shared two desserts - Torta di Nicciola Con Crema Inglesa and Tiramisu al Limoncello. The Torta di Nicciola Con Crema Inglesa consisted of a slice of amaretto cake with hazelnut bites dusted with powdered sugar and served in a cream anglais. We liked how the outside was crispy and had a burnt taste. The Tiramisu al Limoncello consisted of four espresso dipped lady fingers surrounded by a limoncello infused thick custard dusted with espresso powder. We felt that the tiramisu was too heavy for us to enjoy the entirety of the dessert.
(4)Kayla C.
Came for dinner last Sunday for the first time and was very pleased with the meal. Got a nice booth for two which I was pleased about because most NE restaurants stick you at a small table you can barely move or hear your own conversation. So off to a good start. Bread and water took awhile, which in my opinion should come soon after you seat, just a small suggestion. I ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca, which I believe was Veal on the menu but I asked for chicken which they were able to do. I got a side of penne in red sauce which was tasty. The chicken with the Mushrooms in the white wine sauce with prosciutto was absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back to try something else!
(4)John B.
First off, the cocktails... The tropical sangrias where outstanding. I've finally found my official cocktail for the summer of 2015. I would get a carafe to go if I could (or we were in New Orleans). The meal itself was tasty, but there was nothing memorable. It's 2 days after the fact and I'm scratching my head to remember what exactly we had for dinner. If I were to rate Lucia's on food alone, I'd probably have given it a 3.5. There was nothing wrong with it all. It was solid. There just wasn't an "Oh my god I have to go back and have that dish again" kind of dish. I've certainly had more flavourful experiences in the North End. The restaurant itself has a nice warm ambiance. The host and waitresses were spot on and made for an really enjoyable dining experience. The excellent attentive service pushed my score up to a 4 stars. Bottom line, It's a good place for an reasonably priced intimate evening of good Italian dining fare. I'm excited to add another entry to my stable of good North End eateries.
(4)alwyn v.
We had an impromptu birthday celebration in the North End and found this little gem of a restaurant. Our server Maria was wonderful and the food, too much for us to consume, was delicious. We felt like we'd been going there for years. We'll definitely go to Lucia again.
(4)Fernanda P.
Overpriced for the quality of food they serve. We went with friends and did the family style where we share what we order. Bruschetta was good, but expensive for 3 pieces. Gnocchi was too plain. Again, pricey for the taste. The chitarra al tartufo was very tasty. I would say it was the only dish I liked. Saltimboca was tasty but it was drowning in oil. We also ordered some artichokes as an app that are not in the menu. Lobster ravioli had no sauce. We had to wait from 10 to 15 min to be seated and it was super loud. This is a place in definitely not coming back.
(2)Rose C.
New year's eve dinner. Seated fast (ok, we made an early reservation) in a comfy booth near a window. I ordered linguine and shrimp. The shrimp were huge, perfectly cooked - same for pasta. My friend had lobster ravioli and there were chunks of lobster in the sauce. Bottle of nice red wine. Everything was delish. Service was lovely. Highly recommend.
(5)Dipak S.
Food - Had a bottle of wine. Alfredo pasta and the egg plant parmigian. The egg plant was excellent. Service - Hector was great and made the right suggestions for us. Ambience - A nice cute place in North end. Cost - $15 per pax on sharing basis.
(4)Kristen H.
This place was decent, but way over-priced. We were tired of fights swarms of tourists that had descended on the North End at night. We had no idea it would be like that, having just been there in the afternoon a day or two before. We looked at menus, and tried to spot a place with some of the actual local community dining, but we got too tired to go deep enough into the neighborhood before we just caved and decided to try the next place. We ended up at Lucia, despite a bit of reservations. The owner, who was very nice, was at the door telling people to come in, not a good sign in Miami, and I figured the same would be true here. The server seemed newer, but we were patient. The bread came super late, like when we had already been eating for a while, ha! For an app, my husband got the mussels, but they were overcooked and shriveled up. He did really enjoy the sauce though. He learned the joys of sopping up tasty sauces with bread at this meal, and that's something. For an entree, my husband got the veal saltimbocca, which he said was just okay. I ordered the gluten-free braccioletine calabrese, which is served with penne. I usually hate penne, but I was too hungry to care. This particular penne wasn't bad. First, let me say that the sauce was zesty and very tasty. The chicken was grilled nicely and was tasty with the peppers, mushrooms, and onions. My husband thought my dish was pretty tasty too. However, the peppers were cut with little skill--way too clunky and big for the dish. It got in the way a great deal for me. There was a lot of meat on the plate, two split breasts I think. I could only eat one. When they packaged my dish, they didn't pack most of my sauce, so I was quite disappointed. I would've like to box it myself anyway, but for some reason, these restaurants like to insist on doing it for you. As far as ambiance, what could've been a nice, romantic spot was cave dark to the point of hurting our eyes. I really wish that restaurants would give a bit more attention to lighting. They even adjusted it a couple of times, but always lower :o! It was our most expensive meal, but we just didn't feel that it delivered to meet the cost. We don't at all mind paying for good food, but we both found this to be well beyond reasonable. It was pretty good, but I definitely wouldn't go back because I didn't find it worth the price.
(3)Donna P.
Absolutely delish. Great service, wonderful food and the ambiance is so right for the food. Thanks to my Airbnb host for getting me to get out of his condo and walk Hanover street. The salad dressing on the house salad is ridiculously good. The veal is so tender delicious and lightly sauced. So good. I miss this in Tampa. Every Italian place, maybe except for Bella's, wY overdoes it. Lucia's knows what they are doing and they do it well. Brava!!
(5)Luciano T.
I just moved to Boston and I tried Lucia's with a local friend. Overall:great service ,great food,great environment. I will definitely recommend it to all my friends.
(5)Bogdan M.
Had a business meeting there; great food, great service and great atmosphere. Love this place and I would recommend it to everybody.
(5)tammy k.
I made a reservation thru open table app for 730 on a Saturday night. We got there at 720. The hostess thought she may have been able to sit us immediately but then said give her ten minutes. While we waiting just outside the door I overheard her saying she was sitting people with reservations at their best tables so def make the reservation! We were sat ten minutes later right at 730. On to the food!! The Caesar salad was huge..could easily be split by two. Bread would have been better if warm but it was still good. I chose the lasagna and my husband said as soon as he saw my fork go through it like a hot knife though butter he knew it was going to be good and yes it was...by far the best lasagna I've ever had! Outstanding. He had veal parm and it was very good but if we find ourselves here again he would get the lasagna too. Didn't get dessert because really if you're on hanover you're going to mikes for some pasty after dinner!
(4)Richie S.
My fiancé and I came here for dinner last night to celebrate Valentine's Day and we both really enjoyed it. Our waitress was very sweet and made nice recommendations along with checking with the kitchen about a different pasta option for my fiancé. The chicken vegetable soup was to die for and so was the old school al la carte meatballs and bolongese sauce that we ordered as our appetizer. The chicken parm was very good and so was the shrimp scampi, however we both agree that we like both dishes better at Rosalina's Kitchen in Worcester Nevertheless we are looking forward to come here again sometime soon. Enjoy!!
(4)Lauren E.
The Good: - fair sized/quality/price of wines by the glass and bar fare - amazing out of the oven bread - ok mozzarella - the star was the peppercorn oil - fantastic vegetarian menu - excellent home stuffed ravioli - accepted day of reservations as late as 5pm for later that night; and held our table for 15 minutes whilst we hunted for parking! UNHEARD OF! The Meh: - it's a good date night ambiance because there's maybe 7-10 tables total; but the acoustics are odd... You can hear the dates going on to you immediate left and right on Fridays and Saturdays. So go later... And enjoy less white noise and no one listening in on you. - the staff was a little, awkwardly overly apologetic for slower service. It was Saturday, filled to the rafters, and it wasn't horrible... But they interrupted about 5 times to apologize. Totally silly. And after the 5th time - a little annoying. - the food is some of the better Italian I've had in the area; but it's a wee bit expensive for the quality of what you're eating. Still - it's fresh, good, pleases all your picky eaters, and is paired with fair wines. The ugly: - I love the coziness of this place; but it seriously looks like a good will for old Italian grandmother decor. When we walked in; I was a little worried about my friend's recommendation. (But no need - it's legit fun.) Overall: - Would I go back again: probably - Would I recommend to a friend: Yes! Especially if you have special diet eaters a Newport is sometimes not too diverse -especially later in the night. 8.8 out of 10... A little decor updating and 15% off would make this a home run!
(4)Margot D.
Three of us were in for an early dinner on Saturday evening (arrived around 4:30) and the food was good, but I am knocking off a star because the service was a bit slow. My friends started with the calamari which they said was great (I don't eat it) and while I server (female) said she would bring bread, I had to try and flag her down so that I could eat something while these guys were eating. She was out by the door talking to a hostess, and at one point I almost just got up to get her. Food was good: I had the veal and eggplant parm (I couldn't decide which one, so I decided to have both), one friend had veal and the other had something I just don't remember. Portions were good, food was nice, but there wasn't a huge sense of "service". Can't speak for dessert since we went to Mike's afterwards....
(3)Zack C.
The food gives this place 4 stars. The cocktails give this place 0 stars. As for the food, it was delicious and typical of most good North End restaurants. Only complaint was that portions were smaller than expected, but prices were not too bad. The cocktails were way too watered down for what we paid. We could taste water while first tasting them. Not what you'd expect when paying $12 for a drink. Beer selection was also pathetic, with only 5, mediocre options like Bud or Amstel Light. Come here for the food, but wine is the only alcohol that you should order!
(3)Jacqueline S.
Unfortunately, the drinks (berry martini and Hawaiian and regular margaritas) were watered down with very little discernible alcohol. The antipasto was reasonably good. The server was a bit too intrusive and became testy when we opted not to dine further. Take your chances if you like. But there are just too many other options in walking distance.
(3)KEVIN M.
I gave this restaurant 4 stars for the location,, competent staff, and quality of food.
(4)Paul R.
On a previous visit to my "home town" I had the opportunity to have a wonderful dinner @ Lucia's. While touring the North End with my wife I saw that they were open for lunch. We were quickly seated in a comfortable booth, and presented with a wonderful lunch menu. It took a while, as everything looked amazing. We ordered the tomatoes and mozzarella and fagioli soup. Fantastic describes both! Everyone says their mom or nanna made the best fagol soup and this offering was close to what I remembered growing up. Our entrees were the veal masala and veal Parm with eggplant. Substantial melt in your months portions were presented. Half way through lunch I said if it wasn't for the never ending winter I would consider moving back to Boston, just for the food! We cleaned our plates using our remaining bread. We left Lucia's fully satisfied. There are a lot of wonderful dining options in the NE but Lucia is close to the top of the food chain. We somehow had room for dessert and we bypassed the bakery lines on Hanover St. and went to Maria's for a cannoli. Don't stand in line go here.
(5)Caitlin M.
Unfortunately Lucia would have gotten 4 stars had they either sat us on time and not an hour late for our reservation OR handled it better when we brought it to the manager's attention. We had a reservation and ended up waiting an hour after they sat a group our size with a later reservation before us. Finally we were seated and were given menus. It took a long time to get water. We placed our orders and received our appetizers before our drinks, then we had to ask for bread as we saw it on the tables nearby. The food was excellent--artichoke hearts, house salad (friends raved about the dressing), shrimp scampi, lobster ravioli, among other things. When we got the check we asked to speak to the manager and a hostess was sent over instead. They offered us limoncello which we declined. It seemed like no one knew who was in charge over there. Finally we spoke with the manager who made some excuses and wasn't very accommodating. The food was good but I won't be back considering I've been treated better in other North End restaurants. It came to about $40 per person with a pair-shared app, entree, drink, tax, and tip.
(2)Nora R.
I had a beet arugula salad. The saying never judge a book by its cover applies to this place. The salad was not dressed. It was just a few beet slices and dry arugula with sprinkled feta cheese. Very very disappointing, I should've known by just walking in without waiting..
(1)Chrissy B.
Got to the restaurant and there was nobody there, got seated right away which was nice. We ordered our appetizers and food at the same time, it took about 10 minutes for the appetizers. The food on the other hand took over 45 minutes, again the place was empty. It was a nice restaurant, we sat right by the window which was nice. The food was not worth the wait or the price, I had the tortellini which had way to much garlic!! The bread was good and my Caprese was delicious. The staff were very nice but they seem to forget about you when other customers come in. We were very disappointed with the wait and food. We will definitely not be going back
(1)Evelyn T.
I am very sad to say that I was very disappointed in the service of Lucia to the point where I will not be returning. After having to ask for water and wine multiple times was shocking, but a salad someone in my party ordered was never brought over. I have been to many different places around the north end and was shocked for the price of the menu that they did not have fresh parmesan cheese or fresh ground pepper. We sadly had to ask the waiter for that as well and received a parmesan shaker that I frequently see in pizza places. There are many restaurants around the neighborhood in the same quality food with much better service. The food was great, but I due to the service two stars is all I can give.
(2)Marli E.
Delicious food! Tried the Carrozza appetizer and had the Spezzatino pasta as my entree. Think of the Carrozza as a fancy mozzarella stick but flat and much larger and tomato sauce on too as well lol.. We ordered one and it shared between 5 and it was great.. We weren't that hungry so it was suffice for us but I would've ordered 2 on a regular day. The Spezzatino pasta was delicious!! What I loved about this place was that the portions weren't overwhelming big (like something you would get at Cheesecake Factory) and that it actually tasted authentic (unlike Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden and all those chain restaurants). My boyfriend ordered one the specials of the night which was a breaded 19oz veal chop... The breaking wasn't too heavy, the meat was still moist and in the middle it had melted mozzarella cheese.. Yum!! (Pretty much it reminded me of a milanesa that you would have at a Latin America lol) The service was great and prompt, our meal did not take long at all. I would definitely go back. I would recommend to take a jacket especially if you sit in the downstairs because it gets pretty cold.
(5)Tammy D.
Stopped by on a whim with a co-worker during a business trip. They were crowded but able to quickly seat us. Food and drinks were very good. I had pasta alla Norma. The waiter was helpful and friendly. I would definitely return next time I visit Boston.
(4)James I.
This place has become a tradition for our families. We come to Boston every summer and Lucia is a must every year. Even all of the kids love it...there is something for everyone. Great food, atmosphere and service. What else could you need? Oh and be sure to try the red and white sangrias....absolutely fantastic
(5)Steven C.
Stopped in with some work peeps from out of town. It was on the later side but the best places in the north end are tough to get a spot at. We chose Lucia based on availability. Good service, we were greeted right away and our waiter was attentive and knew the menu. We started with some apps, bruchetta, italian sausage and caprese. I bucked the trend and ordered a cup of fagioli. Solid soup with a yummy tomato broth. For main course, I went with one of the specials - stuffed veal chop. I was preparing myself for a lucious piece of meat that was filled with cheese, prosciutto and spinach. When it arrived, it looked great - lightly breaded and I went all in for that first bite. Ugh, overcooked. OK, maybe that was just the outer rim of planet veal chop, let's go for another try... Ugh, dry, overcooked, bummer. It had great potential but fell down in the execution. Rest of my midwest collegues reported good results.
(3)Michelle K.
Great option for authentic Italian dining in the north end! Good service, friendly staff, and very flavorful food. The veal and eggplant parm are everything you could want from this classic dish. The restaurant specializes in veal dishes so you may want to consider this when ordering - you can't go wrong. Overall, a great place! I would return and recommend to others.
(4)Michael T.
I'm usually a big fan of Lucia... My past experience wasn't so great. We had a reservation for 8pm. After leaving another restaurant where we had a drink, and arriving on-time, we were told they had a long wait. This was surprising to hear because we had a reservation. I guess this doesn't make much of a difference. After waiting 30 minutes, we were seated at a table connected to others tables with people... Is this how a restaurant treats a customer who makes a reservation? After politely asking for a new table, we were accommodated. Our server was forgetful. After asking for our drink order, she forget my drink. After asking for the type of pasta we wanted, she provided the wrong pasta. To be honest... The food was good and so were the guys valeting cars, but if you are looking for a great overall experience you may want to choose one of the many other restaurants in the North End.
(3)Nick ..
Really great classic North End Italian restaurant. I had a tasty red wine (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) and ordered the COSTOLETTA D'AGNELLO (Lamb rack, center cut, simply grilled, served with Broccoli Rapi) entree. It was amazing.
(4)Natalie V.
Another amazing place we tried in Boston was Lucia's. The manager was incredibly friendly as well as our waiter who, when he found out we were from Chicago, gave us his friend's name/number to take care of us at his friend's restaurant here in Chicago. They had the best red gravy we have ever had outside of our family! Four cheese gnocchi - AMAZING! The veal chop was breaded, on a bone, and huuuuge - incredibly tasty and our favorite of the night. Their mussels were tender and not fishy tasting at all. Love this place.
(5)Lois M.
We had a delightful lunch with an excellent waiter and attentive manager (Richard). The food was served promptly and was great Italian fare. We would go back! Roger and Lois
(5)Victoria M.
After trying to get into two other restaurants on a Saturday night, we came upon lucia's. we were sat immediately upstairs where there was an extremely rowdy bachelorette party. I hate being "those annoying guests" but the noise was unbearable so after being sat, we asked the hostess if we could move downstairs. She was so nice and apologetic and accommodated us almost immediately! We moved downstairs and our waiter hector greeted us right away. He told us all the specials and was extra polite. Our food came out very quick. My boyfriend had the chicken and eggplant parm, which was great. I had the linguini and clams, it was good but I wish the sauce didn't have such a strong wine taste. Overall the food was pretty good but the staff was awesome. Much appreciated, thank you!
(4)Chad P.
Quintessential Italian restaurant with family atmosphere and outstanding food. I had the veal parm which was huge and my wife had the gnocchi. We went there for lunch while touring the Freedom Trail and it was quick and delicious.
(5)J C.
Myself and 3 others had reservations for 6:30 this past Saturday night. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated and were promptly brought water. That was the only time anyone came over to our table. We were sat on the top floor and the place was FULL. Every table was taken and it seemed like there were two male servers and one female taking care of the entire dining room. I work in the service industry myself, and I realize that it can take a little time to get to a table. However, when a table got up, was cleaned, and another table was sat---AND a waiter went over to them to take drink orders, that is when my patience reached its breaking point. After a full 30 minutes of waiting at a table with no one approaching us to even say "We will be right with you", we left. I told the hostess the reason we were leaving and she didn't seem to understand me. She just responded with a "Sorry." and I'm sure she just went to re-seat the table. I will never go back to eat here again. If you want to receive good service on your night out in the North End, I recommend going elsewhere.
(1)Bill ..
Horribly mismanaged. Made reservations months in advance and even confirmed them three times...including earlier the same day. Showed up on time and there were no less than 12 tables to be seated in front of us. They obviously overbooked to get as many customers as possible instead of logically looking at their booking capacity. If only there was some kind of penalty for these deceptive tactics.
(1)Brittany R.
This little place hit the spot on a freezing day. I ordered their soup of the day, veal meat balls and a taramiso. The taramiso was amazing! The meatballs were done perfectly and the place was like sitting in someone's living room. The hospitality was so friendly, I felt so welcomed. Definitely felt like I got a home cooked meal here.
(5)Courtney P.
Lucia's is great! We needed a place to go on a Friday with 8 people! We were able to make a reservation on Wednesday afternoon. At the last minute we got a 9th person. When we got to Lucia's the hostess and wait staff was quick to move a little divider and add a table and seat for our extra guest. The food was really good. Everyone enjoyed their meals from pasta to salads! Definitely recommend!
(4)Kimeee H.
Service and food were wonderful. Calamari app was tender and tasty. All give off or entrees were delicious (Fettuccini Alfredo, quattro formaggio, veal and chicken saltimbocca, and one other I forget the name of). Even splurged for valet because we were almost late for our reservation. Will definitely visit again.
(5)Jaclyn S.
This restaurant gives a bad impression of the North End. The food was semi-okay, the gnocchi I had was hard ($20), the seafood dish ($30) my friend ordered had a ton of tiny, hard shell pieces in it that he kept biting down on. The service was probably the worst I've had in the North End - the waiter was miserable and wasn't prepared for us. The tables aren't set up properly because they keep taking place settings from other tables. I had to ask for a water glass, knife, napkin, fork separately. The bread was stale. I wouldn't return here or recommend it. There are too many other places to enjoy a $20-25 meal (before drinks).
(1)Peter H.
Competent. On what was admittedly a busy Friday night, we were seated reasonably quickly, but it took a while for our drink and food order to be taken. The food then arrived in reassuringly quick sequence and it was surprisingly good, particularly the rack of lamb, which was outstanding. The wine (Chardonnay) and service were also memorably good. It was rather noisy (aided by the 18-member female dance troupe on a Friday night out at the next table), but I think that's standard for the North End in high tourist session. Good enough.
(3)Jackie C.
This was amazing! My brother was visiting and wanted to try real Italian food in the North End. So my husband found this place and it was beautiful inside. The ceiling was stunning and so nice that it gave the room a bigger feel than it actually was. Our waitress was very sweet and gave great recommendations on food. We will definitely be back for great pasta!
(5)Vlako V.
Great service, great food :) I hit four stars cause I had to wait a little longer for the food. But it's a great place! I'll definitely go next time over there.
(4)Tony M.
I have been to this restaurant before and had a great experience so last night when I was in the area with my family I decided to take them to Lucia's; what a mistake that was. We got to the restaurant a little after 4 and were promptly sat, there were only three to four tables filed and they were all receiving their meals when we walked in. As soon as we sat down the water girl came over and filled our glasses, little did we know that would be the last time any one came to help us. We sat at our table for about 20 minutes and never once did someone come talk to us or ask for a drink order. There seemed to have been only one server and he was just walking around not doing anything. At one point I caught him standing by the door staring at us and when he saw me look at him he quickly turned away from us as if he was purposely staying away. We eventually got up and left but not without warning the couple that was sat next to us about not getting served. We of course let the hostess know on the way out and they tried to get us to come back by telling us they would "make sure" we were served. We ended up finding another quiet restaurant in the north end and in the 20 minutes we waited at Lucia's we received drinks, bread, and an appetizer. It will be a long time before I go to Lucia's again if I ever do.
(1)Jocelyn K.
Yum! That's what I have to say about this place!! Great food, great service!! And friendly people working here. We had the stuffed veal chop and bow tie pasta with scallops and lobster. Flavors were just amazing from the salad through the entree. Michelle served us, and I would recommend asking for her. Just a super nice person!!
(5)Jonathan N.
Foods are pretty good but over prices. The services was great. The staffs was very helpful and friendly. The restaurant was a bit small compare to other restaurants on Hangover street but it was clean and well lite inside.
(3)Kim B.
Gwynn and I left her apartment in search of some Italian food. Thankfully, she lives 1 block from Hanover St. Given both of us drinking far too much for the past month, we both went with soft drinks. Gwynn ordered the Bruschetta and a side of meatballs, and I got the fettucine alfredo. I also asked for bread. The service was SO fast that they gave us our food when they brought the bread! I would have been mad if this were any other day... but it was SO hot outside, and we were SO tired, that the fast service was exactly what we needed! Both are meals were very good, and I would definitely go back for Italian. The decor has the authentic Italian feel, that makes you feel like its a family restaurant on a side street in Florence. It isn't necessarily intimate or romantic, but is great for a family/friend gathering. I loved it!
(4)Christina T.
We came here last time we visited the North End and the lasagna brought me back. It has many layers and is just mouthwatering. Their salads are also huge - I learned my lesson last time after ordering the beet salad which Beets over a bed of Arugula, red wine vinaigrette, and shaved Ricotta Salata. It was enough for a meal, which left little room for my meal. This time I had the lasagna again and my husband had the Braciolettine Limone (Veal, rolled with Prosciutto and Mozzarella and a Citrus White Wine Sauce). I ended up eating most of his dish and he had my lasagna. Both were delicious and I'd stop again if we were back visiting Boston and the North end.
(4)Jenn Z.
It's a pity that I really enjoyed the food here but found the service to be a bit of a disappointment. Although it was nice to be seated despite not having the entire party present, our waiter was barely available during the course of the meal. Despite having taken our request for bread, the waiter disappeared for almost half an hour before returning to take our order. I had to mention the bread request a second time before it was served. Our food also came a bit slow after the order and moreover, the wrong dishes were brought to us twice during the meal. Also, no one came to refill the water throughout the night and again, it was necessary to explicitly request for the refill. Overall, I think the food was pretty tasty but given the service and other options available in the area, I'm not sure if I'd be willing to return here any time soon.
(2)CA O.
Lucia's went through a renovation a few years ago to help brighten things up, but don't worry, the frescos on the ceiling remain! The place is still cozy, with small booths along the windows and a warm, inviting vibe. The service is sometimes great, sometimes okay, depending upon how busy they are. Those with disabilities should be warned that the bathrooms are down a flight of steep stairs. The food is delicious, especially the veal carrozzella. Fun fact: Lucia's and Artu are (or at least were) owned by a divorced couple who would direct people to the other when one was too busy. They serve very similar food, so if you're looking for a cozy, possibly romantic meal, head to Lucia's, and if you're looking for a more modern, busy place with a bar scene, give Artu a try.
(4)Kelsey H.
My friends and I were wandering around trying to find an Italian place to eat and came across Lucia. We were originally going to go somewhere else but he line was down the street and all the way around the corner! Lucia had no line and the food was pretty good and decently priced. They had upstairs seating to accommodate extra customers. My friends wanted chicken parm and this was the first place that we came across that had it and didn't have a wait. The chicken entrees were pretty good but the best dish we had was the bruschetta appetizer! Juicy plump diced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella... Plus the waitress brought us olive oil and balsamic for our bread so I added some balsamic to the bruschetta for that perfect touch! We ordered a bottle of Pinot noir too, the first one on the menu and it was pretty good, but a little pricey for a 35 dollar bottle... I'm sure their more expensive wines were better!
(3)David F.
To get straight to the point - horrible food. Staff was friendly but that's the only positive aspect. Out of the 6 dishes we ordered, one of them was adequate, and it was a soup. The pesto pasta was something I could have gotten frozen from a grocery store, but it was $17 and didn't have pine nuts like the menu said. The roasted beet salad was actually boiled beets and was cold. The tomato sauce was salty and flavorless. The other dishes were a clam dish and a veal dish as well as a bruschetta. Although they were mediocre quality, it was incredibly overpriced: $3 per slice of bread. If there were people waiting to be seated I would have alerted them to seek out another restaurant.
(2)Amy G.
We came here in a group of ~30 and Lucia's staff served us efficiently and with a friendly attitude. I was a little disappointed that the menu was fixed for us, but I totally understand that establishing each dish beforehand makes large parties much more manageable. While Lucia's looks like one of those fancy restaurants where they would serve you tiny mounds of food in the center of giant white plates, that could not be further from the truth--I have to comment on the sheer amount of food they gave us. I was sitting at a table for six and they would give us two generous plates of each course, where one would of probably been ample. Play-by-play of meal: heaping plates of antipasto, bread and butter, vegetarian penne, eggplant rollatini, chicken marsala, fried fish, and last but not least a medley of desserts. I liked the vegetarian penne dish and the eggplant rollatini (I scraped off the cheese) the best. One of the best parts is that they don't waste food. I really appreciated that one waitresses reassured us that nothing would be thrown out. Everything that we left over from each course they took back to the kitchen and packed, so that we had stacks of boxes from which to choose our favorites to take home.
(3)Erica I.
That was a whole bunch of nope. If you're going to charge $21 for a not-so-fresh, dry veal parm cutlet, at least fry it in clean oil! The eggplant parm was soggy (and seed-y), and the sauce really didn't have much flavor. The waitress was attentive and friendly. I feel like this is more of a two and a half star place, but I rounded up for the waitress. So unfortunate.
(3)Jane C.
Great service. Place was crowded as all hell but things ran really smoothly for us in terms of hostesses and waiters. But food was so so. Calamari was excellent but gnocchi were really overcooked and crumbly. Pesto was good. Friend had spaghetti with clamp but the pasta portion was miniscule.
(3)Keith C.
Our recommendation to dine at Lucia's came from the W Hotel concierge, where we were staying. The food is excellent and the ambiance is more pleasant, inviting and warm than we had expected. The valet parking is a must on a Saturday (when we went). The service was good, very prompt. In fact, my only constructive criticism would be to slow down the service. It was so quick we didn't really have time to enjoy the place as much as we would have liked.
(4)S M.
I'd give it a 4.5 if halfs were allowed... Food was tasty, fresco/ambiance made you feel Italian, and unlike many spots nearby (who shall not be named), it looks like it was updated fairly recently. I plan in going back!
(5)Jr M.
I have eaten there many times. The food is outstanding. My favorite is the Saltimboca. The best I have ever had. They have a great Veal Chop as well. Prices are reasonable, service is good. For the money, the value is really good. There are many other fancy places in the North End, they are very good, but expensive and you will wait to sit. Lucia's is one of my favorites in the North End.
(5)Tom C.
Food was good, but nothing great. Prices seem reasonable, but portions are ridiculously small compared to other restaurants in the north end. Service was good, beer was cold, and ambiance wasn't bad.
(3)Nitya D.
For the price, location, and quality of the food, I think Lucia's is a solid restaurant in an area already inundated with restaurants offering essentially the exact same menu. I came here on a Saturday night and was able to put my name on the list at 7 pm and had to wait about 20-25 minutes for an available table. i was eating with family and we had 2 little kids in our party. Since they were getting hungry, we asked our waitress to put their order in first; their food was out within just a few minutes and my little cousins happily gobbled up their tortellini. We ordered bruschetta for the table as well as bread with an olive tapenade. I had a couple of glasses of the Gabbiano chianti, which I found to be medium bodied and complemented my meal well. For my entree I ordered the tratturo antic with capers. It was essentially penne tossed in a white wine and garlic sauce with lots of veggies. It was totally delicious and I had enough to take home. I think everything was priced pretty fairly (~$15-20 for a pasta entree) given the location and some of other prices in the area. Service was friendly and quick. Had a very nice dinner and will definitely go back again.
(4)Christine C.
The food, service and atmosphere is excellent! Never a disappointment. The staff is friendly and very professional. The Chicken Sagitario melts in your mouth. Delicious sangria---hand made pasta---we brought our kids. We asked for something that wasn't on the menu & they made it anyway---the kids ate everything----after a long day in Boston with the fishermen's feast, bouncy houses, the carousel & spray park on the greenway & shopping---when I asked my 6 year old, what her favorite part of the day was she said it was the food! And kid's don't lie---so it's that good. I highly recommend.
(5)Ryan L.
Not a great experience back in March. This was one of the few restaurants that had a table open during a damp/cold night, so we jumped at the chance (now we've learned that lines are a GREAT thing in most cases). The atmosphere was a tight squeeze, as they have three different levels of tight squeezing for your tight squeezing pleasure. Ordered gnocchi with alfredo sauce. Gnocchi was okay, but didn't seem homemade in the slightest. Sauce was runny, and didn't stick to the gnocchi at all. Waitress took her good old time, and was surprised that we weren't impressed with their lackluster effort. Was so disappointed in the entire experience. Certainly know better for next time around in North End.
(1)Paul A.
Same party as last year only one week later. Only change from menu was tortellini replaced gnocci. Same results in service, food quality, and timing. The drinks could have been better. Seemed watered-down. Cost a star. Valet still $20.00.
(3)Michele M.
Okay, we admit that we could've eaten here daily during out honeymoon, but stopped in just twice. Funny, we even ordered the same thing for both meals! Nice that there are tons of Italian restaurants in Boston's North End, so during both visits we had no problem just slipping in and getting seated. I had the vongole pasta which was steamed clams with olive oil, Italian parlsey and garlic. The clams were super fresh, as to be expected in that region. The flavors were so delicous! Oh - and the lemon squeezes topped off this simple yet addicting pasta dish!! Husband had the arugula salad topped with parmesan shavings and balsamic vinegar. Another simple yet classy selection! Just thinking about Lucia makes me want to take a trip to the grocery store for the vongole ingredients to experience Boston all over again...
(5)Matt P.
Classic Italian place! Great atmosphere! Love the frescoes. The food is unparalleled, simple, classic Italian. Just like Grandma used to make! Warm and cozy. And, reasonably priced. One of my favorites in Boston.
(5)Eliza L.
Skip this one, really. Just when you can't get bad Italian food in the North End, you're wrong. The bruschetta was great. Had the white bean with pasta soup, it was ok except it came cold. When asked for some grated Parmesan cheese for it, skip it. They only have the ones that taste like it came from the foil packets. I ordered the "special" which was the lamb shank Skip this one too- tastes like the barn. Quite disappointing given that there are so many fabulous restaurants in the north end. Definitely do not recommend this place.
(1)Dennis V.
Great Italian food, and excellent service! We (2 couples) were walking around in the rain at 9pm on a Sunday night with a huge baby stroller looking for someplace to eat that a) could take us, and b) had room for a big stroller since this is the North End where everything is crowded. Lucia was past when the were scheduled to take their last seating, but with no hesitation they said no problem. They found us a table in the back (great for the baby) and took the folded up stroller from us and placed it in a protected area inside the back door where we could see it. Even though we closed down the restaurant and were the last to leave, our waitress never hurried us or made us feel rushed. She even said that it was no problem, that she would have probably been here anyway - which was a very reassuring thing to say as we were worried that we were keeping everyone late. Our waitress gave us great suggestions and was very attentive even as they were in the process of having a number of tables finishing up and leave. My bolognese sauce over fresh house-made egg noodles was great. My wife had the rolled veal with prosciutto and cheese and it was outstanding! My son had the gnocchi with pesto and daughter had fettuccine alfredo - both good. The wine list was interesting in it's variety and scope, and had very "approachable" priced wines. We had a $40 red from Sicily which was very good (actually, great for the price). I wouldn't hesitate to go here again and liked feeling very cared for in their "family" feeling restaurant.
(5)Rob P.
Basic, nothing on the menu that stood out. With so many Italian restaurants in the north end, all tasting fairly similar, bread can make the difference. Lucia managed to fail the bread category with cold boring bread. Side of meatballs? 2 small tasteless meatballs for $7. Overall, meal was basic.
(3)Aclaire H.
While every Italian place was crowded that night , this restaurant had no wait. I had a delicious chicken Marsala that was to die for.
(4)Phil O.
The prices are reasonable, but don't be confused into thinking this place is Lucca. The food is salty and is not very impressive. If you have one place to go to in the North End, try somewhere else.
(3)Carole S.
Excellent lunch at Lucia Ristorante today after walking the Freedom Trail. We split caprese salad and calamari. Both were very good. Had lemon sorbet for dessert. I highly recommend this cute restaurant for both the food and the service.
(5)Rick S.
Bottom Line - Atrocious (food, service, decor)! All dishes came out lukewarm and ingredients used were not fresh. I don't think anything we ordered was from scratch, it was like Sandra Lee (from "Semi-Homemade") was the one who taught the chefs here. I cannot recommend this restaurant under ANY circumstances; and if you decide to come here, don't say I didn't warn you. Came here for dinner on Thursday, 11 November 2010 with a coworker and a friend. We're not from Boston, so we went up and down the street looking at all the menus and decided to give Lucia Ristorante a try..... We ordered the following dishes: Caprese (fresh garden tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, drizzled with virgin olive oil, $9.95) - eh the mozzarella wasn't that fresh. The tomatoes were just from the store. I wouldn't order this again. Bruschetta Napoletana (grilled country bread, brushed with olive oil, topped with garden tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella, $8.50) - this dish missed the mark. The bread needed to be toasted more, or better yet pan fry it in oil. Mozz was low quality and basil was stingy with basil. I wanted to return this dish. Insalata del giardino (a medley of fresh seasonal greens, garden tomatoes, onions, olives and served with house dressing, $6.50) - my friend ordered it and liked it, but how hard is it to screw up salad? Gnocchi al Pesto (gnocchi tossed with a pesto sauce, made with fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil and parmiggiano cheese, $15.75) - yuck. No flavor and texture was way off. Definitely not house made. Dish came out on the cold side of lukewarm. I wanted to return it. Tortellini Quattrocento Formaggi (tortillini in a rich cheese sauce of Romano, mozzarella, bel paese and parmiggiano cheese, $15.75) - I totally think this is the same exact tortellini found in the Costco frozen food section... It came out at room temperature. I totally wanted to call them out on using frozen tortellini. Melanzane alla Parmigiana (baked eggplant layered with mozzarella and Romano cheese in a light tomato sauce, $16.25) - this dish came out cold (the eggplant was cold, the cheese was hot). I didn't like it at all. Total for 3 of us was $79.20 + 10.00 for 2 beers + 6.00 for pellegrino + 6.66 tax + 15.00 tip = 116.86 total. Some quotes from our table: "This is the worst Italian food I've ever had." "I'm Chinese and I could make better Italian food." "I seriously need to detox tomorrow." "Let's go purge. I don't do bulimia, but this place asks for it." "New precedent: Next time don't order main dishes until we're satisfied with the quality of the appetizers... otherwise, let's GTFU and go somewhere else before it's too late." There are a lot of choices for Italian in this area. I recommend going somewhere else.
(1)Sabina C.
Service was nice and food was quick. Ambiance was nice and comfortable. However, the food was the worst I've had at the north end. Spaghetti and meatballs were terrible and that should be an easy food to mess up. The grilled chicken was really dry and it's side salad made no sense.
(2)Courtney P.
Lackluster service, waiters who mispronounce bruschetta and stale bread. Hate to write a bad review for what seems like a family owned place, but this was a terrible experience. First time back in Boston in ten years and I wanted to take my boyfriend for great food in the north end...... You know, course after course of delicious treats. Well, we called it quits after the appetizers and went to Mikes for a pastry. We would have left sooner but it took a solid 20 minutes and Ricardo walking past 5 times before they got the hint that we weren't going to finish the awful excuse for Italian that was on our plates. I'm sure it's great if you've never had real Italian, but I've honestly had better meals at the Olive Garden.
(1)David H.
Friendly service and excellent authentic Italian food. The shrimp cacciatore was excellent and contained a large portion of shrimp. If you are wandering around the North End and can't decide where to stop I'd give this place a try.
(4)Patrick A.
A family of five from MN with three tired kids after a week in the cape eating fried seafood were looking for a good Italian dinner. The place recommended by a local had a 45 minute wait which was not going to work for us, we stopped at Lucia's and got right in and were not disappointed. The Veal w prosciutto, Parmesan and lemon was great, the gnocchi was solid and fettuccine Alfredo was good and not to creamy. The tortellini and broth was raved about by my 11 year old and my 8 year old scarfed down linguini and clams. Good service but they were a bit under staffed, I would hit it again. Good stuff.
(4)Katie M.
Well I'm glad I checked in and made a reservation because by the time we got our drinks, the line to get in Lucia's was down the street. The food was amazing. i had the vongole. Wonderful. The staff was very nice. I can't wait to go back again.
(4)Terry W.
First time visit there on a busy Saturday evening but we had reservations and got in a little early. Pasta Pomodoro was excellent. The wine pour could be a tad more generous but overall a very satisfying meal. One caveat- they ran out of cannoli's. On a Saturday night. In the North End. Ok.
(4)Kim D.
My eyes glazed over analyzing the reviews for North End Italuan restaurants. We decided to find a place that had a decent crowd, a menu we liked and wasn't open air (chilly night). At the end of our options we found Lucia. Reviews revealed poor service but we had the opposite experience with Ricardo. He was friendly and interacted easily with us. Food was very good and plentiful. Loved the pesto, fresh bread, cheese tortellini and garden salad. Glad we found it. And it was was warm inside. :)
(4)Ryan B.
A family favorite for years that is family owned an operated. The gnocchi is to die for especially when paired with a pesto. It has unfortunately gone a little down hill of late but i'm really hoping for a bounce back.
(4)Angela M.
Arrived at the restaurant on Friday Dec 26 at 4:30. We were seated right away at the front window, and was served water right away. That's where the customer service ended. We were never approached by anyone asking to take a drink order or even letting us know that they would be right with us. They were not busy, restaurant was less than half full and had 4 or 5 waiters working. The 2 hostesses were busy chatting and a waiter even approached them to chat and even looked right at us. We were then seated for 10 minutes. Knowing we had tickets for a show later and were watching the clock, I had checked the time again and realized we were seated more than 20 minutes without anyone approaching us to take any order. We decided to leave. Upon leaving we said goodbye to the hostesses and both asked us if we enjoyed our meal. ( SERIOUSLY) I had to tell the hostess that we were leaving because no one had approached us at all. The one older hostess followed us outside to ask us to come back and that she would make sure to take care of us. Sorry, to little to late! Being seated at the window we were only 3 feet from hostess and having both them and a waiter to look at us and never even acknowledge us was not worth staying or ever returning. If I could have left a minus 3 stars that is what I would have left for our rating. On a good note we went just down the street to another restaurant had amazing service and meal left a great tip and made our show on time. Thank you "Ricardo's"
(1)A V.
My friend and I were planning on going to another North End restaurant, however the line was insanely long and we didn't feel like waiting. We walked by this restaurant and took a look at the menu since the outside looked nice, with Christmas lighting and such. The menu was very extensive and we decided to give it a try. When we walked in we got a table upstairs right away. From what I saw of the first floor, it was dimly lit, but seemed nicely decorated. The upstairs wasn't as dark and also included some nice art work on the ceiling. They had a full bar, which is different from a lot of Italian restaurants in the area which only serve beer and wine. I had the lobster ravioli sauteed in shrimp, which was amazing. The sauce was very good and it was a decent sized dish. I was able to finish it without feeling painfully full. My friend ordered the Spezzatino all'Abbruzzese, which was chicken and veal sauteed in butter, white wine and served with pasta. He really enjoyed his dish as well. We split a bottle of White Zin which was a good wine, and for a cheap price. Our food came out extremely fast, however we felt a tab bit rushed during our meal. My friend finished before I did and they cleared his plate immediately. They also kept coming to our table to refill our wine glasses when they weren't even empty, which I'm not a fan of. Overall we received good service, it was just very quick.
(4)Ignacio B.
I went with my grilfriend and a friend, I ate pasta with chicken, my grilfriend lobster ravioli and my friend gnocci. The three disses were incredible. The place is the best value I've tried in the north end.
(4)Michelle G.
Absolutely delicious. Veal Parmesan with eggplant was very good and the chicken prosciutto with artichokes in lemon sauce was fabulous. The sun fried tomatoes added sweetness to it. Service was quick and everyone was completely sweet and friendly :) Enjoyed it here thoroughly.
(4)Carolyn L.
A group of us went to Lucia thanks to its availability on Open Table when we were visiting the North End a couple of weeks ago. I recall having gone there once when I was in college and having a great time. This instance was no different. The wait staff was very pleasant, if only a bit slow. But it was a Saturday night and it was packed, so that definitely accounts for any delays. All of the food was great. We ordered bruschetta which was yummy, but missing tomatoes! It was actually more like garlic bread. We were a little surprised by that. Moving on to the main dishes, though, I shared the Marco Polo dish (A seafood delight, made with shrimps, clams, mussels, filet of sole, calamari and sea scallops in a light marinara sauce and served over a bed of linguine) with my friend. They nicely put it in two different bowls so we didn't have to get all messy divying it up. The seafood tasted GREAT and the sauce was light and flavorful. There was soooo much seafood in it! I heard mmmmms of delight from the other members of the table. I also snagged a bite of my friend's eggplant parmesan. Equally delicious. We all ordered wine by the glass because we couldn't decide on just one. They had a very nice selection, adequately priced. It was a very pleasant Italian evening in the North End!
(4)Jenna H.
Had a wonderful meal at Luica Ristorante. It is right around the corner from my apartment and this summer was the first time I have tried it. My grandmother was in town and wanted to take my husband and I out for a nice meal. I wanted to stay close to home and after checking out the menu decided on Lucia. Service throughout the meal was great, and the food was delish. I had the chicken marsala and it was hands down the best I have had in the north end. Cooked perfectly with abundant flavor. Upon leaving the restaurant my grandmother had an unfortunate fall out of the front door way - there is one step down upon leaving the restaurant and she missed it. All of the staff from the hostess to the valet driver who is always out there jumped into action to help us. I am grateful to them for this but think that a large sign to reflect the step would be helpful for others in the future. I am looking forward to coming back here in the future for meals. Just remember to watch your step :)
(4)Rachel K.
I have been here three times now. Two times with my boyfriend and one time this week with a group of coworkers. Every time, every person, has been highly impressed with this place. My favorite is always the Pollo Del Saggittario...mmmmmm! They have a great wine selection here and it isn't overly pricey. The price point here is great. Our server was also working the downstairs bar, and he was very timely, friendly, and efficient. He was also helpful with recommendations. This place isn't overly crowded or stuffed like many in the North End, and is easy to make a reservation. Definitely one of my favorite places in the North End.
(5)Andreas T.
Have been coming here for years. I am never tired of their food -- great tasting food. The fried calamari is excellent, and so are the mussels. Whether you have the gnocchi (that I had today) or the veal Marsala you will not be disappointed. I am not a wine drinker, but I am told that they have a good selection.
(5)Dave Z.
Lucia's is easily my favorite Italian restaurant, not only in the North End, but anywhere. Everything I've had there has been exceptional, with my favorite dish vitello carrozzella. Lasagna, Sogliola Margherita, Gamberi Cacciatore, and their different forms of parmigianas are all excellent also. I also always get a side order of their broccoli, which is cooked so perfectly with olive oil and garlic that even George H. W. Bush would like it! Two of the many things that makes Lucia's so exceptional is the olive oil they use, and that they have the best tomato sauce that I've had anywhere. A few years back I was working near South Station, and I spent the summer having lunches at different restaurants in the North End to see if I could find one better than Lucia's. Every restaurant I went to was very good (does the North End have an Italian restaurant that's not good??) but none matched Lucia's, and over the years I've brought friends there who previously had their own favorites in the North End, and who came away making Lucia's one of their regulars. The main dining area is somewhat cramped and a bit noisy (the downstairs dining is better in that regard), and the waitstaff is genuinely good although at times brusque, but the food is absolutely terrific, and for the money, a bargain.
(5)Lisa M.
Sigh. Wanted to love this place but it was not worth the price... The atmosphere and service were top-notch. No complaints there whatsoever. But the food was only okay and "okay" is just NOT okay for these prices. My husband and I ordered 1 app, 2 sodas, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts and the bill without tip came to nearly $90. That's not surprising for Boston, but if you're savvy enough to be reading yelp reviews you'll be able to find better food for that price. If you're just looking for classic Italian that's "pretty good" this is your place... I just don't want to pay $90 for pretty standard fare. To explain - - The caprese salad was disappointing. The tomatoes and mozzarella were very thick-sliced, and the tomatoes were not very ripe ... somewhat understandable in May but not for $10+. There was no balsamic vinegar whatsoever - just olive oil - and the basil was tiny shreds... that might be okay if you had AMAZING tomatoes but in this case it was not. I could have made this at home with supermarket tomatoes and mozzarella, olive oil, and 3 basil leaves. Sad. - The veal parmigiana was only okay. Nothing amazing. A little overdone and tough. - The best thing we had was the Marco Polo. Of course, it was also a $27 entree. Seafood with linguini in a white wine sauce. The sauce was great and a perfect compliment to the seafood. Some of the seafood was overcooked - notably the scallops and the calamari. The shrimp was excellent. Some of the noodles were tough at the end, as if they'd been cooked earlier and had ended up partially dried out :( - My husband's Tiramisu was excellent in flavor and texture, although presentation in a little glass bowl was lacking. The lemon added a nice twist which was surprising to me, because I wouldn't have thought lemon could work with a coffee-flavored dessert. Bonus points there. Wish the presentation had been better. - My "panna cotta" looked and seemed to actually be flan, and again the presentation was lacking. It tasted good, but I was expecting panna cotta in a cup with a thick fancy caramel sauce, and this was literally just flan like you'd get anywhere, on a plate. I wish I could give 2.5 stars. The description for 2 is "Meh, I've experienced better" and that's what I'd say, but if the price were more reasonable I'd give 3 stars for sure.
(2)Mary T.
I made my list, I checked it twice, but stupidly I didn't factor long waits into the equation. Gnawing my hand off would have been the only way I would've been able to handle the waits at my top two North End choices and that would've made eating dinner a little challenging. Plan B sent me scouring NE for another dining option. Happening upon Lucia, a quick check of the Yelp app told me that it had a respectable 3.5 star average; it sounded fine, but frankly I walked away disappointed. They were able to seat me immediately, which gave me pause; with virtually every restaurant in the North End having some wait, why was this place so empty? I was seated in the basement dining area, if you have a choice ask to be seated upstairs. The downstairs area is fine, but with low ceilings and brick walls it had terrible acoustics. That aside, service was very friendly and attentive. I started with a glass of pinot grigio and an order of the Bruschetta Napoletana, a C+ effort. Take note, there are two bruschettas on the menu and one is basically a cheesy garlic bread. The fresh mozzarella was lovely - light and airy; but the tomatoes weren't very good. I don't think they were fully ripened; they definitely lacked that sweetness and flavor I expect. Additionally, the bread was wasn't toasted or grilled either, which left it on the chewier side and made the dish very messy. But what really killed the dish was that the "brush" of olive oil was more like a slathering, I was on the verge of asking for a replacement napkin by the time I was finished, my hands felt like an oil slick. For my entree I wavered between the linguine with clams (vongole) and the lobster ravioli special. Going against my better judgment, I went with the special. My server was kind enough to tweak the dish for me, instead of the straight cream sauce it came with, they added a bit of marinara to lighten it up. The dish was just ok, a bit one note frankly. At $24 I expect a choice of soup or salad, maybe an offer of freshly grated cheese or ground pepper and some better plating. The presentation was sloppy, there was sauce sloshed all over the plate, nearly running off the side; a proper pasta bowl would've helped. At this price point, the food just did not live up to my expectations. Next time I'm in Boston and pass this place, I'll keep on walking.
(3)Sam G.
Liked this place a lot. made a reservation the night before, so no wait for our table. Nice variety of food - a good selections of pastas, chicken dishes, and, my favorite, veal dishes. They also had a pretty good selection of wines, which were fairly priced (although if you want a really great priced bottled of wine for dinner, go to Giacamo's). My meal was very good, but a bit pricey for the meal. it was a veal dish stuff with mozzarella and prosciutto topped with mushrooms. It also had a side of pasta. The pasta was alright, but the dish itself was fantastic. Really enjoyed the tenderness of the meat and the juiciness of the mushrooms. The white wine sauce was just right - not too over powering or lemony. The price is about the same as you would pay at any of the other restaurants in the North End, so not bad. Would definitely suggest trying the place, and maybe even worth a second try. Will update after I go again :)
(4)Kathi L.
We ate here a week ago, the food was superb as well as the service. Lucia's adds class to the North End.
(5)Stephen P.
While we waited for a table we went downstairs for a drink. When our table was ready we asked the maitre d if we should settle our bar tab or if it would transfer to our table check. He asked that we settle before sitting down so we put the money on the bar and waited for change. Three minutes passed and the maitre d came by and told us to settle up quickly and move to the table because he couldn't hold it. I certainly understand that they don't want to keep tables open but his way of telling us to hurry up was rude and unprofessional. Tell the bartender not the customer. While seated we also heard him chew out a server for not turning a table over quickly enough. The bread before the entrée was below average for Italian restaurants and there was a fruit fly that kept circling us that ended up in my glass of wine. We ordered and 5 minutes later the food came out (too quick to me). I had the eggplant with mozzarella. It was the most disappointing plate of food that I can remember. The eggplant was rubbery and lukewarm/cold. Warming it up would not of saved it so I didn't bother asking. I had a few bites but ended up just eating the small portion of pasta that came along with it. Rarely do I leave food on my plate - I'm a card carrying member of the clean plate club. This was an epic failure. My girlfriend had the lasagna that turned out to be basically just a block of bland meat with hardly any pasta. She ate about 1/4 of it. We should have looked at the reviews before going here. There are a dozen restaurants in the area with higher ratings. Save your money and look elsewhere. The only positive was the bartender was nice.
(1)Melanie C.
Cute little place, and one of the lower-priced restaurants for the North End. The food was fine, but nothing special. There are better options in the North End, you might just have to shell out a little more cashola.
(3)Jessica G.
Delicious!! I went here a few weeks ago... and it was one of the best dinners I've had in the North End. I'm not eating dairy b/c I gave it up for lent, and the chicken parm without the cheese was still amazing! We had a table in the corner... our waitress was super nice and attentive. We were about 20 minutes early for our reservation and they sat us immediately. Prices were reasonable as well. Two thumbs up!
(5)Nick B.
During a recent trip to Boston we decided we had to have dinner somewhere in the North End, and walking down Hanover Street nothing really grabbed us until we got to Lucia, so in we went. It was busy, but not packed, and we weren't in the mood to wait, so that was fine. Our server, Maureen, was very friendly and knowledgeable, and we wound up having a great conversation with her father who happened to be in for dinner and sitting beside us that kept us there well into the evening - but that's not really what reviews are about... The food - the food was excellent - chicken parm for my wife, and I had Calabrese veal - it was great, a nice flavourful sauce, great portion size, nice and tender, overall just a great experience. We didn't wind up having dessert because we were so full, but it was a great meal overall.
(4)Karisa D.
Ohh Lucia, where do I begin: I've never been anywhere in the North End and been seated immediately until Lucia. My friends and I walked in without a reservation and were quickly seated. There's a good variety on the menu. I ordered the Linguine con Cozze which is their mussel dish. I wasn't expecting a lot of mussels but I was pleasantly surprised when my dish arrived piled high with fresh mussels. If you're a seafood lover, highly recommend this dish. The prices are a bit higher than what I am used to, but still not bad for the North End. Overall, I had a great experience. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Danielle B.
Had the Lobster Ravioli and it was alright. There are definitely many better restaurants in North End to spend your money at. The service was good, ravioli tasted like it came from a freezer.
(2)Julie N.
My parents were in town and we were trying to eat at Nicco but they wanted to put us in the basement to eat. You don't put my parents in the basement. We checked the menu at Lucia and gave it a go. They went to seat us in the upstairs area but when we asked to be seated in the main dining area, they happily obliged. We sat next to the window on a glorious day and it got stuffy. We asked them to open our window, and again, they happily obliged. Tip: Have them open your window. It made a HUGE difference in the dining experience. Service: Wonderful. Food: Really excellent. The lobster ravioli special wasn't all that special but the eggplant parm, chicken parm, and veal marcela were literally lick your plate clean good. Especially the eggplant. Another tip: skip the bruchetta. Though it's very fresh, they serve it on their regular italian bread so it's soggy the second it arrives. Price: Not all that bad! All in all - I would definitely come back here.
(4)Paul M.
The food was the best iv had in the north end
(5)Alan J.
We stopped here after a long day of Christmas shopping. The smell when we arrived was not pleasing to me, but I don't care for a huge plate of fresh squid and that had obviously just been served because after a few minutes the smell passed. I ordered the Gnocchi and my mom ordered the Lasagna. My Gnocchi was tough and thick and I could tell it would hit my stomach like a rock, so I sent it back for a slice of the lasagna that looked a lot better. I'm sure glad I did, because it was delicious.
(3)Raj S.
Super expensive! Lucia Ristorante is located towards the end of Hanover St. and wasn't as crowded, or as loud as the other restaurants we passed by. A friend and I started with a glass each of Chianti as neither wanted to get drunk on a weeknight. We ordered a delectable shrimp appetizer made in a sauce that went well with the bread. Marco polo and pesto gnocchi were our entrees, along with 2 more glasses of Chianti! Ha ha, I know...weeknight shmeeknight! My marco polo had more than enough seafood and was delicious, as was my friend's gnocchi. We decided to head elsewhere for dessert, and our bill was $125 with tips, which is a bit steep compared to other equally good restaurants in the area.
(4)Anna R.
-Watery, bland sauces and food -Extremely noisy and crowded -Slow, unfriendly service Considering all the amazing North End restaurants, I'm amazed they're still open.
(1)G M.
Terrible experience. Waitress spilled water 3 different times on 3 separate people, no apology, & she was rude! did not even bring over new napkins (brought a few paper ones from the bar for me to wipe it up myself). had to ask for new napkins 2 separate times. At this point I'm so annoyed. Ordered some wine & apps. our appetizer plate came out with a dead fly on it. DO NOT eat here. So many nicer, cleaner spots in the north end. Went to Gennaro's instead. Beautiful restaurant, great food, really polite waitstaff.
(1)Sheila B.
Just had my new years dinner here all in all the food was good for the price, well a little $. I can't complain in new years eve we had a reservation for 4 good calamari, buffalo mozzarella was ok, for appetizer, the pasta dishes need more umps hence the 3 stars, but I would go back. My take on the entrees ( just pasta) was not wow but not that bad either, hence the three stars... The gnocchi with the red sauce and or pesto were both good. The penne was not home made and a little to al dents, big portions =left overs and full bellies... I thought our server was great and we did really enjoy the experience.
(3)D D.
We went on Christmas eve- after Mass at Holy Cross. Waitress was very nice. The ambience was nice- warm cozy. A lot of families doing the same thing. The marinara sauce was perfect. Very enjoyable experience. Would go back w/out kids. Menu was limited and did not have pizza...one of my kids favorite items..surprise.
(3)Steph F.
Have been here twice, and enjoyed my meal (and the part of the restaurant where we were seated) the first time. My experience the second time wasn't as good. So, perhaps it's a mixed bag. Overall, solid Italian eats, but there are definitely places that I like better in the North End. One pro is that there is a reasonable amount of space in here, compared to other restaurants that I find to be more delicious but more cozy/cramped.
(3)Heath M.
If you want a foodie-heaven or tourist trap, don't come here. If you just want a good homestyle italian meal consisting of a meat, some pasta, or whatever, this is your place. Having been at the places where people wait in line just to say they've been somewhere, I'll take an immediate sit at Lucia any day. Why? Because those restaurants you're waiting in line for aren't that great and they cost a bit more. Lucia really is the difference between the old North End vs. the North End that we now know to be the tourist destination. Lucia is just your classic southern-Italian pasta place with a little bit of dress up. It's more Godfather than Eat, Pray, Love. Is it perfect? No. But I'm not sure I'd want it to be. I like the murals, the taped up booths and unpretentious vibe. I just want some wine, decent piece of veal, some pasta and I want to leave full, I come here. My nonna splits her time between Dallas and Ft. Lauderdale these days, so sometimes I can't wait for a good homestyle meal unless I make it myself. If I don't, then Lucia is on my list of possibilities.
(4)Nadine F.
This is a cute restaurant, but unfortunately the atmosphere is far better than the food. My friends and I tried several dishes. The penne bolognese lacked any flavor until I covered it in red pepper flakes. The calamari pasta was OK. The steak was probably the best of the three dishes. The waiter wasn't very attentive, and he got really angry and sarcastic and rolled his eyes when we asked for water to drink, even though we were still looking over the menu to see what kind of wine would complement our meal. The wine selection was good, and that was the only really enjoyable part of the meal. I won't be back.
(2)Jes S.
I came here on a Wednesday for a quick dinner with my husband. The host and our waiter were quite attentive and nice, however the food was rather bland. I order the pesto gnocchi, the pesto tasted powdery and blasé and the gnocchi was rather flavorless. My husband order the chicken parm and found it quite boring. Overall I really wanted to like this place but it just fell short. If you are looking for a quick great dinner in the north end I would suggest you look elsewhere.
(2)Emma T.
I am sad to have to give this place only two stars, but sadly they've changed and it's not for the better. Back in 2007/2008 this place was the only place in the North End I would eat at. It was absolutely fantastic! The ambiance was great, excellent service, amazing food..it was just awesome. I've watched it slowly loose it's charm over the years, but after visiting it again last night it officially lost it. The service was awful! Our waiter looked like a George Burns wannabe, had dirty finger/nails (gross when they're serving you food) and just wasn't good. We ordered salads and then our meals and she brought out our salads and then our meals two minutes later. Either bring them out together or wait at least 10 minutes..seriously. By the time we ate our meals they were luke warm. Very disappointing. Not to mention the table behind us had two girls playing some version of patty cake with each other kicking our booth..and they were teenagers mind you. Just weird and not an enjoyable experience.The only reason I give it two stars is because the woman at the front who seated us was just the sweetest. But not enough of a reason to go back ;/
(2)Robert R.
I went to Lucia on a Saturday night for a dinner out with friends and family. We were 4 adults and 2 kids (9 and 3). We were sat right away by a very friendly and accommodating hostess. The wait staff was quick, efficient, and extremely helpful. The menu was great, although I did eat a veal special they were offering. The wine list was also very good. All of our meals were OUTSTANDING. Cooked perfectly and flavored divinely. I'd like to especially point out how great they were with our children. The staff made them feel like welcome members of our dinner party and were accomodating to their picky food tastes. All in all a great night!
(4)Peter S.
Seafood Fradiavolo - A f#$&^ingMAZING. If you're in the mood for spice, seafood and red sauce - look no further. You will love it. $42. Also try the white sangria - great summer drink.
(5)Melissa W.
So, I went to Lucia's with a friend this past weekend. This restaurant was the ONLY one in the North End that didn't have an hour long wait during dinner time on a Saturday night - that alone should have made a strong enough statement about the restaurant. But no, we proceeded into Lucia's. We were seated promptly enough, waiting a mere 10-15 minutes. The hostess seated us (party of 2) downstairs in a corner table. On the first trip over to our table, our waiter asked us, without preamble, if we were ready to order. He did not offer us drinks, appetizers, specials, or even at minimum, water. After telling him we needed a few more minutes, he simply walked away without a word. We ordered the calamari appetizer. We thought that, because it arrived within 10 minutes, our entrees would be just as prompt. We were wrong. More than one hour had passed after the arrival of our appetizers and we were still awaiting our entrees. During our waiting time, 2 tables next to us both finished ordering and eating their appetizer, entrees and dessert. The waiter practically threw the check to us across and over the heads of three other customers, saying "Here." What was also very amusing was the amount of additional tip the waiter thought he deserved. We, like many other Lucia customers on yelp, saw that the waiter decided to give himself an additional $10.00 of tip, adding a one to our number. If you have bad service here, pay with cash. When we called back 2 days later, the manager hung up on us. Perhaps this was one of those rare exceptions to excellent service, but it seems that with as many recurring comments of the same variation of mistreatment, it sadly looks like a common theme. This is was the worst 2.5 hour long meal I've ever had. The one star is for their bread.
(1)Misha T.
3 stars is right. My girlfriends pesto gnocchi was good but our bruschetta was indeed soggy as others have noted. I will say though that the tomatos that came on it were exceptionally good but the bread would just break on the way to my mouth and at that point who cares. my mussels were much too salty as well. You know what, i'm changing it to two stars, the more i think about it the more it sucked. especially for the price.
(2)Ross D.
Brought my wife here on a Friday night for dinner. We got right in with no waiting, our waitress was fantastic and the bright spot in our frankly ho-hum dining experience. Put simply: the food was nothing special. If this restaurant was in the burbs I would probably give it four stars. But in the north end, they are simply below average.
(3)Cherie C.
While walking the Freedom Trail with an out-of-town friend, we happened upon All Saints' Alley while Jim, the proprietor, was there. As a lifelong North End resident, he recommended Lucia. We enjoyed our meal. The chicken cacciatore came with plenty of peppers and onions and not too much sauce. The chicken was fresh and tender. The gnocchi were also good, served in a light tomato sauce. Portions were pretty big, so we had plenty for lunch the next day. Service was friendly and attentive without being overwhelming. All in all, a nice experience.
(3)Andrew K.
Never again - Avoid Lucia at all costs. The management has no idea how to properly run a restaurant and treated us like dirt, I have never been so frustrated in a restaurant in my life. we showed up right on time for our 7:30 reservation and found a large crowd gathered outside, we should have taken this as a red flag and turned around that moment. After checking in with the hostess she said the wait would be only about 20 mins, so we thought no problem and waited patiently.... 30mins, 45 mins, finally an hour went by and nothing. The crowd was getting larger and frustrated. The owner was flat out lying about wait times and totally overwhelmed as he was letting people in completely out of order, based on how aggressive you were, which just made the situation worse. After an hour and a half we were finally seated at 9pm, with only a poor attempt to explain that they were backed up.. really? how do you screw up reservations that badly!!! Never again.
(1)ZZZZ T.
Fairly mundane Italian fare in a neighborhood teeming with good Italian food. I recently went there with a large group (delinquents, all), and the restaurant was fairly accommodating of the large group and its ensuing antics. The service was attentive and friendly, with drinks and food brought out quickly. That night, the restaurant was an eclectic mix of older folks, young couples with their high-chaired eating children and our large group. Everyone was having fun, although I think more because they've got a full bar and a moderately priced, if fairly unexciting wine list. As for the food, the antipasti was pretty good, although the veal the waitress steered me to (her favorite dish!) was bland, overcooked and underwhelming. There are definitely better dining options within a few blocks. The food isn't bad per se - it's just that when you eat there, you know that you've walked/driven by better comparably priced places down the block.
(2)Chris G.
Great time. Got right in on a Friday night. Gnocchi al Pesto was terrific. Superb service.
(4)Ang L.
Probably my least favorite experience in the north end so far. The sauces lacked flavor and on a slow night the service wasn't sharp, a bit slow. The waitress even admitted their sauces are too heavy. Much better options close by.
(2)Amy B.
I was not at all impressed with Lucia. I lived in the North End for 2 years and this was the worst place I ate at and probably the only one I would tell people to avoid. I ordered the pesto gnocchi and it was the worst pesto I've had. The sauce was very bland and had absolutely no flavor. The service was awful - our waitress was so miserable and rude and she acted as if asking her for another glass of water was the most daunting task on earth. I brought my father and sister here and really wished I hadn't - neither of them are very picky but I could tell they weren't really impressed with their meals, especially after eating at some of the other North End restaurants I took them to. To sum it up, I would never go back here.
(2)Julie A.
It's pricey. The decor, service and paper napkins might not be worth the money. Mussels tasted a smidge rubbery. Bread wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. BUT THE GNOCCHI WITH PESTO WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. Get that. And some homemade sangria. These three stars are very happy.
(3)Shannon W.
We came here with a party of five and the place did not disappoint. We all raved about our meals (Gnocchi's and Veal) and the Sangria was awesome. We liked the atmosphere and our service was excellent. We cam during the Italian Festival (St Anthonys) and we will be back!
(4)Lindsey W.
WOW surprised this place has any good reviews. The only thing nice about this place were the murals on the wall and the atmosphere. The food wasn't the worst I've ever had...but it was pretty lack luster. Actually, it was pretty bad. I honestly could have just gotten a box of pasta and had a better meal. The service was so poor. We felt like our server hated us! We were served bread without olive oil...which made no sense to me. But the worst part of the whole thing (besides the bathroom..I'll get to that) was the server asked "Would you like parmesan cheese" when we said yes I expect the STANDARD fresh parmesan cheese, I mean this is an Italian restaurant no??? She jus smacked down a parmesan shaker and walked away. HOW can this place be considered actual Italian food without the staples? The bathroom was a disaster area, totally disgusting, something that should never be seen in a "high-end" restaurant.
(1)Aaron H.
Authentic, fresh Italian food in a quiet setting; however customer service leaves something to be desired. We enjoyed the eggplant parmesan and bruschetta napoletena. Generous portions! Our waitress was very nice and the lady who brought our beverages, bread and olive oil was very attentive. Our main complaint about this place is that they would not allow us to bring our stroller for our infant to the table. Thus, the baby had to sleep in my wife's arms while we ate and parked the stroller in the back of the restaurant even though there was ample room to pull the stroller to the table. The hostess and vallet guy made my wife feel as though this was not a child-friendly place, nor very welcoming. It was the wrong way to start the experience. It's hard enough to bring a small child through a big city on a hot day, and it always feels like we're in someone's way, so it was just a bit frustrating to get that attitude from the restaurant staff. The good food made up for the sour welcome to our family, so it is worth a try if you don't want to wait in the long lines for some of the more popular Italian places on Hanover Street. The paintings on the ceiling are quite entertaining and interesting. By the way the firefighters in the station across the street say that Lucia is the place they eat!
(3)Austin C.
Wow. Eating here was in my top 5 restaurant experiences ever. They sat us downstairs - which was recently renovated. There were 6 in our party and the staff was able to keep up with our needs very well. Great atmosphere. More than anything the food was incredible - had a veal dish. Delicious. Go for it!!!
(5)Nikki Y.
I went to this restaurant on a Saturday night with my husband. The wait was 20 minutes, so we sat in the bar while we waited. We were pretty comfortable so we decided to have our meal there. We ordered the following: brucetta with mozzarella cheese, shrimp appetizer, and the pollo foccacia. All three items were amazing. The brucetta was very fresh tasting. It's made with mozzarella cheese so it's different from the run of the mill brucettas. The shrimp appetizer was served on a garlic and olive oil crestini, it was SOOOOOO DELICIOUS!! I couldn't get enough of it. It's a MUST order! We also loved the pollo foccacia. Definitely check this place out if you are in the Boston area on the Northend on a crowded evening.
(4)Sunny Dawn S.
Valet service was prompt and friendly, even for a table of 5. Our server, Mike, was attentive without being annoying. I had the eggplant and my dinner partner had gnocci. Both were good, but the eggplant was special. Everyone at the table ate a bite, and then another, of mine. I loved the atmosphere. The windows were open and a lovely breeze accompanied dinner. The murals on the ceiling are unique, I was surprised how well-done they were. While my food was good, the best part of this dining experience was the open air. Go on a night they'll let you dine inside while enjoying the cool breeze.
(4)Mel D.
Great Italian food in a great neighborhood!
(4)Thy L.
Not bad. Not good. Food is mediocre, but prices are way above average. I only came here because Urban Spoon sent me here when I decided I didn't want to wait in line for Giacomo's. If I knew it was so expensive I would've walked a little farther to go to Limoncello's and get better dishes. My chicken eggplant parm wasn't very good. My chicken was really thinly cut before it was breaded. It didn't taste tender at and was actually a little rubbery. Waitress was pretty nice and restaurant is big, so i doubt there'll ever be a wait.
(3)Ashley L.
I went here on a rainy Monday night. With a group of people dressed less than business casual and a little on a budget, so we wanted something casual. The normal places were of course packed and Lucia seemed to have plenty of space for our party of 6 and the menu looked good. The food was just okay. The bread served was not great. We didn't order any appetizers and our meals were delivered quickly. I ordered the chicken focaccia and it tasted great. Portion was decent. But my penne tasted like it was from a cafeteria. Extremely bland and mushy. Everyone else in my party seemed to have the same reaction. Food was good enough to eat, but nothing special. If the price has been a little lower, I think I would have given it an extra star. The actual dining room was nice. Very clean and with attentive wait staff. The hostess rushed us in the door, but was still friendly. If Lucia was located outside of the North End, I would probably go back. But with so many other dining options I would have to pass it up to try something new.
(3)Jason D.
Lucia's is located far down Hanover St., so most of the other restaurants are busier/more difficult to enter on a busy night. We got tables right away and enjoyed GREAT food, great service and a delightful wine menu.
(4)Paul M.
Oh Lucia, what happened? You were once my favorite spot in the North End- great food, lower prices compared to other North End Restaurants and a quaint, romantic atmosphere. But now everything seems to have slipped. Over the last 5 years I feel like things have gotten louder and louder here to the point you have to shout to hear your dinner companions. That would be okay if the food quality hadn't gone downhill. The gnocchi is good gnocchi in terms of texture but both the gnocchi with veal (abruzzi) and the gnocchi al pesto have been lackluster. I tried the al pesto today ($16.50) and it was bland. I also ordered a side of meatballs for $8.25 and it was 2 decently sized meatballs that were dried out (they crumbled into pieces when cut) and tasted like something my Irish ass could make. What really prompts this negative review is the way our party was treated. A reservation was made for 20. Only 18 showed. We were properly seated at a table that could accommodate 20. We were then told, after all 18 of us were seated and served water and wine, that we'd have to move to accommodate a surprise party. We were then given what appeared to be the party's table: a much smaller table that seemed like it was designed to accommodate 16 at most. My legs were crossed so tight I lost circulation. There wasn't enough room for 18 place settings let alone 18 people (or the 20 we were supposed to have). When we were moved we were promised another table would be added to ours to give us more room as soon as available. When the party at that table got up (1/2 way through our entrees) we were told we couldn't have that table and it was seated to another party. It was not until my g/f complained that we had been promised this extra room when we agreed to move that this other party was asked to move and we were given the space. I believe they comped some of the apps we'd ordered, so they did try to remedy the situation but it felt a little too little too late for me. The kicker was the party we'd been moved to accommodate only looked to have 16 people or less and would have fit at the table we'd been moved to. Ugh. It'll be a long time before I'm back..
(2)Erhardt G.
Went to Lucia with my family after walking most of the way down Hanover Street and not wanting to stress out over back-tracking to find a table for five. We were sat immediately on a beautiful Saturday evening; albeit it early in the evening, this may have been foreboding. And it would have been great to sit in one of the many empty tables on the first floor to enjoy the remaining sunlight, but we were ushered into the dark basement instead. Our waitress seemed a bit out of sorts but was generally a warm person and dealt well with my family's musings. We started with the lightly fried calamari, which was very good. My dish had penne pasta with it, which was pretty terrible, and my chicken was a bit bland but I had enough to eat. The drinks were good though. Tasty and strong cocktails made the food go down easier. I would stop here again for calamari and drinks but not for dinner.
(2)Jen F.
We stopped by Lucia for a quick bite to eat and some refreshments on our way through the North End and I was not super impressed. The service was decent, the atmosphere was nice, but the appetizer was basically status quo (nothing incredible). Also, I am pretty positive that they served us a different wine from what we ordered. But I couldn't prove it. There is a lot to choose from in the North End, obviously, so choose wisely!
(3)Ali E.
This was the only place we found on Hanover street on a friday night that didn't have a wait of at least an hour, which bumped it up on the list ever so slightly. Minus one star for mediocre service, but I felt like that was more the exception than the rule, and it was taking us a while to decide what we wanted regardless. We asked what the waiter liked best - the house specialty, and that seemed to make all the difference. He reccommended the veal, so every one of us got some incarnation of veal dish - they were all so good. I wish I could remember the name of what I had: veal stuffed with prociutto and mushrooms and cheese, oh wow was it awesome. The pesto gnocchi was similarly stellar. The wine we had was nicely paired and not too expensive (though that kind of goes out the window when you order two bottles). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jaslin G.
The service was fine. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The food came out on time and there was no long wait. However, the food was overpriced for it's poor quality. The bread that came as an appetizer was a little stale and not warm at all, making it very difficult to spread any butter on it. The fettucine alfredo tasted like warm mayo and the pasta didn't seem fully cooked. The lasagna tasted like dog food and basically a big chunk of meat. Overall the food was bland and flavorless. The decor was pretty awesome, really looked like an Italian restaurant should. All in all, if you're REALLY hungry and you can't get anywhere else, that should probably be the only scenario in which you should go in. Ciao.
(2)Bradford M.
My mom always wins. :-/ So my mom was out here last week for a conference, and the night she flew into town we decided to wander out to the North End to grab dinner at some Italian spot or other. Basically we just walked down Hanover St. until something smelled good, which ended up leading us to Lucia. The place was maybe 1/3 full (on a Tuesday night), so we were seated immediately. I loved the ambiance, cute murals on the walls and ceiling. I'm gonna guess that the place seated 40 or so, perfect for a corner 'ristorante'. Diane, our server, balanced attentiveness with unobtrusiveness perfectly. I started with a glass of an Italian red wine I wasn't familiar with, and my mom had a beer she hadn't heard of. My wine was good. My mom's beer was better. For dinner I went with the ravioli special (lobster ravioli with shrimp in a cheesy creamy sauce whose name I forget), and my mother went with chicken in a spicy red sauce (whose name I also forget). Both entrees were dynamite, though my mom's was slightly better. I really want to know how they managed to get the stripes into my ravioli. I mean, perfectly striped cream and green/black ravioli? I'm puzzled. For dessert I had coffee and a cannoli. It was great. My mom had lemon sorbet, which was served in a frozen lemon rind. It was incredible. Prices were mid-range for a somewhat better than mid-range experience. I really liked this place, and will definitely go back. Five stars baby! Next time I'm just going to have whatever my mom has though. Damnit.
(5)jenn e.
My entire experience at Lucia's was awful. The food was subpar at best. My standards for italian food are not very high, but this was worse than what I could've made myself, and I'm a terrible cook. The Caesar salad was nothing special- what you'd expect to find in the ready made section of a grocery store. The marinara sauce on the pasta was watery. And it was incredibly overpriced for what were clearly low quality ingredients. What upset me the most, though, wasn't even the food. It was the fact that when they split our bill four ways, apparently their computer system isn't smart enough to figure out how to adjust the 18% automatic tip so that it's 18% of the total of your check, and not 18% of the total of the bill. I ended up paying a 50% tip!!! The staff had absolutely no interest in helping me fix it, and just shrugged their shoulders, even when I asked them over and over and over again to figure out a way to change it. I had to practically badger them just to get them to acknowledge that they were charging me too much for tip, and even after they admitted it, the manager himself told me "there's nothing we can do about it," and shrugged. He didn't even apologize. What a loser. Don't go here, end of story. You've got plenty of other places to choose from where you can find a friendlier staff and better food.
(1)Garth S.
My friends and I happened upon Lucia last September as we wandered the North End looking for lunch. The restaurant was not crowded and we were seated immediately at a corner table next to a window overlooking your typical North End side street: a narrow lane, a brick wall, strolling tourists. The open windows let in a nice breeze along with the scent of the flowers growing in the window box. A pleasant start for sure. The waiter appeared quickly to take drink orders, bring us bread and tell us about the specials. We placed our orders and waited. The restaurant was nearly empty but for whatever reason, the service was unbearably slow and once the bread was exhausted, I started getting annoyed. My fault, I suppose. Maybe I should have had a snack before going to lunch. At one point, when a couple of parties seated after us received their food long before we did, I wondered if we'd been forgotten. But such things happen and unless there's something seriously wrong, I don't complain. The day was nice, our seats were comfortable and we passed the time. I'd like to say the wait was worth it but the food, when it finally arrived, was just OK. It was also expensive: Lucia does not have a lunch menu or lunch prices. A long wait, OK food, and dinner prices for lunch. Not the best use of my time but, hey, it was still better than Olive Garden. Would I return? I guess I wouldn't say no if everyone else was set on it but I don't think I'd seek out Lucia, either. I will say that I really liked the ambiance but without more, a good seat and the scent of flowers isn't worth the price.
(3)Stan W.
My husband and I had dinner here - well, actually, he did. I ended up getting pizza at Bova's because the second entrée I ordered never arrived. The first entrée, lobster ravioli, did not taste fresh. The owner/manager argued that it was indeed fresh, in any event, I ordered something else. But after my husband finished his dinner - with mine nowhere in sight, we paid the check and left. Never again. Too bad, we live right down the street and it would have been a nice, convenient place to go. The search continues....
(1)Eric S.
I was a bit disappointed by this place, sadly. We were seated quickly, which was nice, and the staff were all very nice. However, we had a few problems that I just couldn't get over: 1. The air conditioner downstairs blows crazy cold until customers start complaining. I normally run hot, and was chilly. My hubby had to put his coat on. Not until another table left would they turn it down. 2. They broke and spilled a bottle of sparkling water all over the table and us. No biggie... but then they charged us for it!? I was too done to even complain by the time the bill came. 3. The waitress insisted the gnocchi had no dairy in them but my lactose-intolerant hubby proved otherwise within 10 minutes of leaving the restaurant. 4. Like several other reviewers said - the food ain't cheap and it's too bland to be worth the money it costs. Nothing bad, but we've had better.
(2)Liza R.
I agree with the other reviewer when she says it's Definitely NOT the best place in the North End. However, we didn't feel like waiting in the rain so we decided to give this place a shot since they were able to seat us right away. I had the Marco Polo which unfortunately was nothing special, your usual frutti dimare tossed with spaghetti. I was very disappointed, especially for the price. I also felt that the portions were rather skimpy...again, for the price. The service that night was pretty bad, but I was understanding because there were several large parties going on at the moment as well. Overall this place is not very memorable and I probably won't be going back.
(2)Tina D.
If I could give less than 1 star for this ridiculous establishment, I certainly would do so. I rushed home tonight after dining at Lucia just to write a review so that no one else has a similar experience. I arrived tonight with a friend to dine at around 7:30pm. The service from the start was pushy, though there were only 3 other occupied tables. The food was mediocre at best; the meal began with a bland salad, and progressed to a chicken dish and a seafood dish, which were accompanied by pasta from a box in the supermarket, presumably. However, the real treat began at the end of the meal. I paid the $75 bill with a $100 gift certificate. As I have waitressed at four high-end Boston area restaurants before, I assumed that I would be issued a gift certificate for the remaining balance, as is customary with every other restaurant I have ever dined at or worked at. Not at Lucia, though. Instead, I was informed that my gift certificate would not be re-issued in any way; in fact, I would be basically eating the remaining $25. I asked the manager politely why this was and if that was the policy, said that we would like to order something else. We were told that we could not order something else (dessert, coffee, wine, or any food to go), though we were never told of this rule beforehand. The manager and the waitress rudely left our table before they could answer our questions about why such a policy is in place, or at least, why this rule was not noted on the gift card. Of course, I knew that no cash would be refunded. I just simply wanted an explanation of why this was the case. I will certainly never dine here again, and will make certain that none of my family or friends ever make the same mistake of dining at Lucia.
(1)Bobby K.
If this place were anywhere else, I would rate it higher. It's decent, but when you're in the North End, why opt for decent? We had a reunion type dinner there a few weekends ago, the first time back in Boston for a lot of us in quite some time. This was the only place we could get a reservation for 10 on a Saturday night. The food was okay. The wine was okay. Our waitress couldn't count. We had a couple cards and a stack of cash that got sent back to us as not enough twice before we made her watch us count it out as sufficient. I won't be back as there are just too many better options in that 1/4 mile radius.
(2)Luke P.
This was one of the worst meals I've had in the North End. We went around 6:30 PM on a Saturday since our favorite spots all had very long waits. I lived in the N.End for 7 years and never tried Lucia as it was far down Hanover and always seemed like one of those generic Italian spots that catered solely to the tourists. I had hoped my theory was wrong, but was sadly disappointed. The ambiance is OK, actually the downstairs room is kind of nice, but that was by far the best thing about the meal. Our server wasn't very friendly or helpful. I ordered the caprese salad thinking it would be impossible to mess up, and while it was edible, it was completely unremarkable. Now for the fatal flaw of the restaurant. I had ordered a pasta special, but when my meal came out it was barely luke-warm and resembled nothing like the verbal description. I thought I had misremembered what the waitress said, but then it became clear I had received the Ammazzafame: Penne sautéed with porcini mushrooms, sliced sausages, broccoli, and sun dried tomatoes, capers. The sauce in this dish was arguably the most over-salted thing I've ever eaten. I mean it completely ruined any other flavors that might have been present. I probably should have said something to the waitress, but by that point, I think we just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. My date ordered the pesto gnocci, which while very pedestrian, was 1000x better than my entree. Unfortunately, the North End is littered with these kind of places. They look decent on the outside, but really don't serve food much better than The Olive Garden.
(1)Reena S.
Decent food. But watch out. They won't give you bread and oil unless you ask!
(2)Randi F.
A-OK, yep that explains it perfectly. The white sangria was really good. Bruschetta didn't have balsamic vinegar on it, which I thought was odd. It was just untoasted bread, tomato, basil and chunks of cool mozzarella. Good, but odd. The Pollo Focaccia was really good, super salty, but it wasn't too much. I tried my friend's penne with pesto, and the pesto was decent, but the pasta tasted like it came from a box. We had been hoping for handmade pasta. The server was helpful without being intrusive. Just know, you get a side bowl of pasta with every dish, so don't order an extra one. We missed that memo and our server didn't inform us, so we ended up with way more pasta than we needed.
(3)Andrew K.
8 people with no reservations? No problem, we can sit you right away. One of the busiest nights in town (college move back weekend) and you can sit 8 people right away? Does that tell you anything? I was fighting it all the way, with sweet smells of the St. Anthony's feast calling me from the nearby streets, but to no avail, we were here. Pasta - can you say "Previously Frozen?" The Tortellini Quattro Formaggi could have been the Tortellini Quite Frozen. It was bland, tasteless. Alfredo - first of all, not enough sauce. Second of all - not enough sauce. My poor wife had a heaping mound of pasta.... dry plain pasta without sauce... Maybe we ordered the wrong thing? Maybe I have the wrong place based on all of these other good reviews? Biggest pet peeve - knowing I spent $60 on something I could have cooked for $5. Go to the market, get some Ragu and save some money.
(1)Jamie F.
My brother owed me dinner so of course I picked one of my fave restaurants Neptune Oyster. Unfortunately, the wait was two hours... I guess, Lucia, it is. We were seated right away on a Saturday night, which should have been a red flag. Roberto was our server but he hardly served us. First, we overheard him announcing the Specials to other patrons but neglected to share that info with us. Fine, whatever. Ordered the calamari appetizer, which was pretty good. After we finished that, it took over 1 hour 15 minutes for our entrees to arrive, which is unacceptable. Roberto was basically MIA and never informed us that the kitchen was "backed up" nor apologized on behalf. In fact, the only time we were able to speak to him was because we flagged him over. Not to mention, he never cleared away our appetizer plate nor refilled our waters. A smart waiter would've also noticed and cared to ask why I did not finish my pasta dish (it tasted awful). He did not offer bread, parmesan cheese, dessert menu, nothing. Of course, he was only prompt with the check. So we decided to write Roberto a few notes on the receipt, hoping he'd re-evaluate himself and understand why we tipped him so. He must've thought he deserved more because he added $9 to the tip on our $54 bill (my brother verified his bank statement). That is so shady and downright dirty!! From reading other reviews, this is not the first time it's happened. Called to speak to the manager immediately and he expressed no interest whatsoever in our bad experience nor apologized. He simply requested the waiter's name and check number - have not heard back yet. Thankfully, the credit card company will remove the additional charge and investigate further. There is nothing worse about a restaurant than bad service and bad management. With so many other dining options in the North End, do yourself a favor and avoid Lucia.
(1)Kristina M.
This food was VERY bland and blah. The service was pretty good, but the staff seems as though they would rather be anywhere else besides there. I could compare the taste to Denny's. They do have very good red wines, though. If you want some 'ok' food super fast (service is very very fast), then this is your place! If you want authentic Italian food, look elsewhere.
(1)David O.
Sublime, Heavenly. Outstanding. You must visit here. We arrived late on a Monday night due to delays on the train. The staff was tremendously attentive and the food was beyond outstanding. We started off with the calamari sauteed in a light red sauce. No frozen fried nastiness here. The calamari was cooked very well, not chewy with a great flavor. Even my 11 year old daughter, who is very skeptical of these things ate them. My travelmate ordered veal Marsala, I ordered linguine with clams, and my daughter ordered the classic fettuccine Alfredo. My linguine with clams was outstanding, with fresh littlenecks still in the shell in a light white sauce with a touch of perfect seasoning. However, I would say I didn't have the best dish. My travelmate veal Marsala with a side of penne was tremendous. Thin tender strips of veal in a perfectly prepared Marsala sauce. But the sublime, the tremendous, the best dish of all was the fettuccine Alfredo. Fresh made pasta in a perfect Alfredo sauce that provided all of its key flavors of butter, cream and cheese danced on the palette. No oil in the bottom of the bowl, it really was - perfect. My daughter ordered a chocolate lava cake, I had cannoli, and my travelmate got a hazelnut cake. All of the desserts were outstanding, but the cannoli, the CANNOLI. Lucia's is worth it for the cannoli alone. It was absolute perfection. It wasn't overly sweet, the filling was smooth but not light, the shell was firm but not a hard shell. Very hard to beat in the North End, right on the Freedom Trail, in shadow of Paul Revere.
(5)Slim S.
My girl and I were walking around in the North End on a Sunday night before Columbus Day. It was getting close to ten and we happened by this restaurant and so we asked if they were still open. They accommodated us and we ordered a couple pasta dishes. No bread was brought out and I don't know if that was because the place was getting ready to close. But we didn't care since our pasta was filling enough. I had the homemade "maccheroni all chitarra" and she had the "tortellini ai quattro formaggi." The pastas were good with nice flavors and the portions were adequate. A little skimpy on the service though (we sat there a bit with empty water glasses to be filled, and the bread thing as well...). My pasta tasted exactly my my grandma makes at home, who is from Molise, and I think these owners are originally from Abruzzi, which is close to that region. It looks like the place has been around for a while and it was once a real family-run establishment. Not so sure about that anymore. Either way we had a good meal and given that there are so many other choices in the area for Italian I can't really compare to the others, since we only ate here. They have a bar area downstairs and another dining area. I am sure the place gets more hopping on the weekend evenings, especially in the summertime. I give the mediocre three star review for being okay, not bad, but not really remarkable. Unfortunately this is a type of review that just says "give it a try and hope that you like it, since it is decent enough."
(3)Tracy K.
Definitely not the best place in the North End. But (or therefore) you get seated quickly. This place made me laugh quite a bit, first at the oh-so-awkward-but-still-endearing waiter, then at the ceiling painted like the Sistine Chapel. The bread was underwhelming, a taste of what the rest of the meal would be like. Bland shrimp scampi, bland bland bland. In fact I probably won't remember it in a week. But hey, one great thing is that it's close to Mike's Pastry!
(3)Itch S.
I remember when this placed used to line up around the block. I think food sophistication has changed in the clientele to the North End and they have not evolved. I find myself going every now and then because of just that, it is still pretty much the same menu and now there is no wait. I just wish they invest a bit more in the food prep. A simple food makeover would go great lengths. I'll still go again. Old habits die hard.
(2)Milee S.
I went to Lucia's on a Monday night (not usually a busy night by any standards) to celebrate Valentine's Day. My bf had heard that reservatins were necessary, but when we walked in, there was hardly anyone there, except for a large party of about 15 and a couple small groups. We got one of the more intimate booths near back. Service was great! We had a server who was evidently from Italy. WIne list is pretty extensive, as are the menu choices. It was VERY difficult to choose what we wanted! For appetizers, I started with fried calamari. The portion was quite large, and the tomato dipping sauce was perfectly spiced. We also each got a glass of zinfandel, which was great too. He had the bruschetta, which had delicious, soft mozzerella cheese. For entrees, I got the breaded chicken cutlet with a layer of eggplant and sauce. My entree came with a choice of salad or pasta, and I chose the salad. It wasn't exceptional. And they used a creamy italian dressing. He got something called the ammanzamma (I think that's how to spell it), which was pasta tossed with sausages and other veggies. He really enjoyed it, while my portion was HUGE. I couldn't finish it, but could tell it was perfectly cooked. Bread was typical Italian bread. With no dipping oil. We skipped out on coffee and dessert, although there were a lot of choices in that department. Lucia's is very romantic, not loud at all, and in the heart of the North End. It was a fantastic evening. I am looking forward to going back for some pasta, as those choices looked delicious! Prices are really reasonable, so you can still impress without breaking the bank!
(4)Raj S.
I am not sure if I want to give this place 3 star or 4. We walked all over little Italy before deciding on this restaurant. It was late in the evening so got seated fairly quickly. They had two hostess one at the door she was quite pleasant but the one who seated us had an attitude. She seated us right next to this family who were extremely loud, even for Boston... Food was good but not so great that you can't find it in any other Italian place. We had mussels steamed in white wine which was decent. Hubby had veal and I had fried cod and sausage, all in all not bad but nothing to rave about. Our server was efficient and attentive. We liked him. They have good selection of wine and their espresso was great but not sure what to make of panna-cotta we had for desert.
(3)Kristen C.
One of my favorite places in the North End - best part (aside from the delicious food...try the bruscetta, yum!) is that they can usually sit you, without much of a wait!!!
(5)Claire D.
The meal was awful-- too much salt and nothing tasted fresh. I would not recommend this place at all.
(1)Sidanshu G.
Bad service... Really Bad service.......No great interiors...... Food was not great either.... I would never ever go back again to this place......
(1)Rori S.
On a busy Saturday evening we were seated within 1/2 hour, which isn't bad for a walk-up in the North End. The waiter was friendly, helpful and very competent. We ordered the Bruschetta Napoletana, Caprese and Olivata for appetizers and all were tasty. However, I've had better fresh mozarella elsewhere but this was still very acceptable. For main course, I had the Gnocchi al Pesto and I have to say, it was delicious. You know the feeling when you order a dish, and when it arrives it looks great, and then tastes even better... it was like that. I woke up this morning wanting another plate for breakfast! For desert, I had the Tiramisu. Unfortunately, it was bland and uninspired. Oh well. However, despite the minor disappointment of the Tiramisu, we had a good time at Lucia's. Good food, good service and good atmosphere. And the prices were reasonable too. We'll be back.
(4)Ken P.
We were in Boston for a family vacation. My family loves Italian. Lucia's was great. The basic dishes were great for the kids. The veal dishes were great for the adults. The atmosphere was fabulous old school Italian, just a little loud. Danny was terrific with perfect recommendations.
(4)Sarah M.
My friends and I bundled up and headed to the North End for dinner on MLK day. We stumbled upon this restaurant and while reading a menu an older fellow told us the food was really good, so we went in. We were a party of 8 and got seated almost instantly after the pushed a table next to another one. The food was good, everyone enjoyed there pasta. The prices were reasonable and I finally found someone able to balance a potato gnocchi and pesto cream sauce perfectly. The service was good; food came out quick, bread was yummy. It was a great experience but nothing to write home about. And that older guy? Totally the maitre d'.
(3)Adrienne M.
I hate giving three star reviews because I feel like places are either good or they're not, but Ristorante Lucia really is one of those mediocre places that doesn't deserve a good or bad review. The food is fine but unexceptional, and there are certainly better places in the North End for the price. One word of caution: don't let them seat you upstairs - the last time we went there were several large groups there drinking lots of wine and talking and laughing loudly and because we were in the corner, all the sound was directed right into our ears and it was so loud it was painful. I'm not talking just "not quiet enough to be romantic", this was so loud that my ears were actually in pain (think LOUD rock concert). Yeah. Not enjoyable.
(3)DG S.
Excellent experience! Braciolettine Calabrese was perfectly cooked and no one in our 12 top had a single complaint.
(4)Valerie F.
Went into the North End to use our Buy With Me coupons for G'Vanni's and immediately we were rudely turned away because we did not make a reservation so we turned the corner and went to Lucia's which was awesome! Almost glad we got turned away because this restaurant if now one of my favorites, I had the Pollo Focaccia and it was delicious, wine was awesome and service was good too. Will definitely go back!
(5)MTraveler H.
My husband and I dined here after reading several reviews and were so pleased with the experience. The staff was very welcoming and personable. Our table was in the basement of the restaurant which I would call the wine cellar, it was perfect for us! I ordered the Chicken Marsala which was very tasty. Everything from the food to the wine was delicious. We would absolutely eat here again and would highly recommend it to those who are looking for a high quality Italian meal in the North End.
(5)J B.
I recently planned a Girl Scout trip to Boston for 12 girls and their moms. We ended our long day of touring in the North end so I thought it would be nice to be able to eat there instead of treking all the way back to our hotel by Boston Common. I did of course set this up ahead of time because of the size of our group. I had a lot of trouble getting any restaurant in the North end to take our party and give us a fixed menu. Anthony at Lucia was more than happy to help us. I was a bit nervous that maybe the food wasn't going to be that good being he was the only one willing to accommodate us on a fall Saturday evening, the busiest time for any New England restaurant. I was so happy we came here. Not only was the food delicious but the staff was wonderful. The portions were very large and very reasonable. Great location too! We walked right across the street after touring The Old North Church. I plan on going back in the spring with my family.
(4)Ben H.
The wine was good, gnocchi pesto was outstanding, and the dessert was decent (chocolate lava cake). The service was great. Our waiter talked like the elevator operator in the Hudsucker Proxy ("hiya, buddy"). He was cool. A little overpriced, but a very good experience.
(4)Sherry T.
Told that we had to eat somewhere in North End if we were going to Boston. Found Lucia's on OpenTable (trying to rack up my points), so I made the reservation. Overall, service was pretty good. It's a tiny place so we were a little crowded. But still, nothing that really bothered me. Everyone in my group really liked their food. I thought mine, the gnocchi with pesto and pine nuts, was a little oily. I did try some of the others' dishes and they were all really good...guess I just had some bad luck. The gnocchi itself was good but the sauce was lacking.
(3)Lorraine F.
Went for lunch and sat in the basement floor. It was a little cold down there, but the chicken parmigiana was great. I've been suffering from wrist injuries and ordered mine pre-cut. When the server brought it over, I really thought they'd forgotten. I was really impressed when I noticed it really was cut, but just cleverly disguised. I'm glad it didn't affect the presentation of the meal. ^_^ The chicken itself was really tender and juicy. I'll definitely be going back. The server was a little inattentive though. I had to call her over for more water, but after that, she paid more attention. I guess it was just too quite when I was there.
(4)Steven Z.
Had linguine and clams supposedly with garlic and wine. Almost no garlic and watery wine. But everyone else liked their meal and the bruschetta was very good. But bread was cold and a bit stale and only came with butter, no olive oil. Service was very fast, almost too fast which made me think the meals were already prepared.
(2)marie b.
I'm so sad to see all these bad reviews because my friends and I just went there last night and had a GREAT meal. It was pretty busy on a Friday night but we didn't wait long. We got the Bruschetta Napolitano(?) as an app. I'm not crazy about tomatoes and I thought they were the best I had ever had. The bread could've been toasted more, it was a bit soggy but we wiped the plate clean it was so good! Our meals came out steaming hot, I got the cheese tortelini, my friend got the chicken parm and my other friend got something else I can't remember, but he loved it. The choc lava cake and eclairs for desert were also great! Atmosphere was great, the only thing bad we could say about the place was that the server could have been a bit more friendly, but he did the job! Would def. come back again.
(4)Mary P.
Can I say, "Yummy!" The dishes my cousin and I had were truly very flavorful and something we've never had or maybe even seen on other menus in the many Italian restaurants we've been to. She had the Pollo Del Saggittario. I had a bite or two of it. It was amazing...the anchovies weren't overpowering at all. The combination of all the ingredients made the dish perfect in it's flavor. My cousin liked her dish so much that she tried to make it at home...it wasn't the same. I had the Braciolettine Calabrese...veal rolled and stuffed with my favorites prosciutto and mozzarella. This dish hit the spot for me!!! Just the right spices, and having mushrooms in the sauce made it even better. I would definitely go back and try other specialty dishes.
(5)Simona S.
Came here on a Saturday night after my second failed attempt at grabbing dinner at Giacomo's (the line was entirely out the door and my "date" was not all about waiting). They told us that there would be a 30-45 minute wait at Lucia's so we put our name down and grabbed drinks at Strega a few doors down. We came back in 25 minutes and the woman gave us major attitude and said that she was "waiting for us and had called our name twice" even though we told her we would be back in 25 because we didn't feel like waiting in the cold. But that was really the worst part of the whole experience. The food-- amazing. The pasta was perfectly cooked. I had the Pollo Saggitario and it was really quite excellent. I wasn't filled to the brim-- which was good because I got to snag an awesome cannoli at Lulu's. As for the service-- well the waiter could have been a little more attentive. The food took a long time to get to us and the waiter could have done a better job of making sure if we needed our glasses refilled (and we did). Food-wise, definitely worth checking out, and I'd say that the prices were pretty reasonable as well. Nothing was really eye-poppingly expensive and I thought the quality was quite good. I'd probably come back here again-- but only if Giacomo's was closed and/or if my date was impatient.
(4)Jim P.
We were here early on a rainy Friday night. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't and she led us into the basement. The ambiance of the main floor was totally lost here, Low ceilings, hot and bright lights. I asked the hostess if she could seat us upstairs (it was 90% empty at the time) and she hesitated and said she's see what she could do. As she seated us, I saw the owner/manager shoot her a look that seemed to say, "what the hell are you doing?' Then he took over as our server - was a little bit of a condescending jerk. It was a little strange. The place was still empty when we left. Food was not too bad, but nothing worth having an attitude about. It's a 2nd tier choice for Italian food in the North End.
(3)Kristin N.
Lucia has THE BEST lobster raviolis I've had in Boston. They aren't on the menu, but they are always mentioned as a special. Great sauce with shrimp and lobster meat on top. SO good. They also have delicious martinis and cosmos - all of which are in a bigger glass than most North End restaurants.
(4)Kristine M.
Really cozy and reasonably priced. We had good service and lot of tasty food. The chicken parm is done right and I love their lasagna. Their fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil is like little bits o' heaven. I noticed they even had risi e bisi on the menu, which I didn't try, but it's not something you see on menus very often -- even in the North End! I will definitely be returning...and bringing my Italian half of the family there when they visit!
(4)Amanda Z.
By far one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to in the North end. The food is just blah, nothing special at all about it, although I admit, if the service wasn't so awful, I probably wouldn't even bother to write a review. The management is absolutely horrible. My party of 7 was there for an hour and a half and we were practically being shoved out of the restaurant as soon as we paid our check. As I was coming back from the bathroom, I heard a manager telling another one that we needed to "just leave" and asked if she could go "talk to our table". No more than 5 minutes later, we had 2 managers come by and ask if we needed anything else, practically pulling our chairs out from below us. If a party of 7 can't spend an hour and a half eating there generous meal, you need to learn how to run your business. Turning over tables fast is certainly not worth disgruntling well paying customers.
(1)Bliss D.
I heard you couldn't get a bad Italian meal in the North End. I heard wrong. Main Problems: 1. The bread was sub-par and was brought out with butter packets, not oil and balsamic. 2. Our meals were brought out in under 5 minutes, which seems sketchy to me, and the waitress did not offer us fresh ground pepper or parmesan cheese. It turns out we could get parmesan cheese if we asked for it (but not the fresh kind), and our only peppr option was the shaker on the table. 3. My salad supposedly was greens with olives, onions, and tomatoes. It came out and there were plenty of onions, MAYBE two olives, and ONE small wedge of a barely ripe and mealy tomato. If I order a $28 dish of pasta (with no meat or vegetables or random expensive ingredients) it better be so delicious I want to pee myself. Nope. It was medium at best. The salad was disappointing. My friend felt the same. Our night was only salvaged by the good wine and the post-dinner trip to Mike's for cannolis.
(2)JR W.
we were going to Giacomo's originally but changed plans after seeing its line out the door. now i really wish we would have waited. when we asked our server about two dishes, he flatly said 'i don't know'. . . the gnocchi al pesto was flat too - way too creamy for a pesto sauce. my dish had this overwhelming powdery taste to every bite. yuck. and i chewed on some gritty stuff in my dish...so bad. and overpriced...
(1)Beth M.
This is my favorite restaurant in the North End-- it's exactly what I'm looking for when I'm in the mood for Italian-- authentic cuisine in a cozy romantic atmosphere with charmingly amazing service. You really can't miss here. The one draw back is that my favorite things on the menu are so good, I never try anything else (despite all the enticing choices). I'd say at least the last 10 times I've been here I have gotten the same thing. To start my husband and I always get the mozzarella cheese stuffed with prosciutto and topped with red sauce. it sounds heavy but it's not a huge portion so it's a pretty perfect first course. As an entree I always get the pollo lucia-- lightly breaded sauteed chicken in a lemon herb wine sauce with fried artichoke hearts and mushrooms...to die for. And my husband always gets the chicken marsala. I've brought lots of friends and family here and everyone has loved it, so I feel like I can safely vouch for the rest of the menu too...though I've never had dessert here with Mike's and Vittoria right down the street. Nice wine list as well. And I've never had to wait longer than 20 minutes for a table. I highly recommend Lucia if you're in the North End-- personally I enjoy it much more than the really upscale joints on Hanover.
(5)Coco P.
Been here twice for business dinners. The first time was excellent, I think I had a stuffed veal chop and it was wonderful! The second time I went I had the lamb shank and unfortunately it was tough and a bit fatty. Service was good both times though! I would definitely go back
(3)Jenny K.
Mediocre Italian food. I was so excited to try good Italian in Boston's famous North End and was really disappointed by this place. We entered the restaurant and were immediately escorted to the downstairs dining area. The decor is cheesy: dimly lit with walls painted with various Italian landscapes. Our server was an inexplicably nervous but friendly waiter. For a starter, Drew W. and I ordered the bruschetta. It was pretty good. Crisp garlicky toast with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella diced on top, and fresh basil. Messy but good. Drew ordered the tortellini, one of the dishes recommended by the waiter. It sucked. While the portion was hearty, it essentially looked and tasted like those pastas you buy in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. The cheese tortellini was plated with no sauce. It was bland and overly doughy. I ordered the shrimp gambieri. This dish was okay but not that great. It consisted of linguine, shrimp and olives in an arrabiata marinara sauce. The sauce was not very spicy or particularly flavorful.
(2)Beth E.
I had a dinner here for my 30th birthday. With like 16 of my closest friends. We sat upstairs. We took up the entire middle of the room. The food was good (even though my friend ended up with something other than what he ordered, but luckily, it was my friend who is pretty much the human vacuum, he ate what he was served and enjoyed it). Bathrooms are on the lowest of the 3 levels, so there was some up and down the stairs action, but no one seemed to really mind. Needless to say, we were there for a few hours. The service was great. Young Italian waiters with hot accents. Our head waitress was fantastic. She was very patient with us, and especially with me, skipping over me when taking our order because I hadn't started reading the menu yet because I was too busy chatting with my friends. She was all smiles all night. And so was I.
(4)Jeremy B.
Stumbled on this place after being deterred by Giacomo's long line. Great food, fast friendly service and a charming atmosphere. No complaints at all.
(4)Nick S.
They've got the best chicken parm this side of the Mississippi, and I've tried pretty much every restaurant on the east side. Still working on the west side - but for now, Lucia's takes the title.
(5)Nic A.
Love this place! They have a great selection of food, and the ambiance is great. If they give you a choice, dine on the bottom floor. They renovated it a little less than a year ago and turned it into a lounge atmosphere, and it's lovely. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because my boyfriend and I went this past Valentine's Day, and our reservation got messed up. But considering that was the only problem I've ever had at this place, I like to chalk it up to just being really busy for the holiday.
(4)Alicia M.
The food at this place is fantastic. It reminds me of my trips to Florence and Rome. The prices are in line with those in the North End, not dirt cheap but reasonable for the food you get. A friend of mine from Italy recommended me to this place, and I'm so glad he did. If you want something simple and delicious order the bruschetta and the maccheroni chitarra.
(4)MB R.
We were able to get a walk-in reservation on a busy Saturday. Lots of tables at this multi-level restaurant. Veal was excellent and the we loved the calamari. Waitress was great and never rushed us. Would go back again.
(4)Caroline H.
Over priced and not good. I got the Gnocchi in pesto sauce and it was so bland. I've made better gnocchi at home. My other 2 friends weren't happy with their meals each other. It was too expensive and the quality wasn't good. I've been to so many other better restaurants in the North End. Our waiter was nice but the female hostess was so rude! Definitely wouldn't recommend it. Too expensive and below mediocre.
(1)Richard S.
Giacomo's was completely packed so we came here instead for a quick pre-dinner meal. It was pretty empty so we got seated upstairs immediately. I guess no one normally eats at 4 in the afternoon (cept at Giacomo's). I had the Gamberi Cacciatore at the recommendation from a friend - first time I've had this dish. Not bad, not bad. The two friends who came with me didn't order anything so it was just me munching away. By the time I finished, the entire room was packed with diners, I guess this place gets busy after all.
(3)Meg M.
I went here this past weekend since I got a gift certificate from my parent's for graduation....gotta love free food. The place seemed a bit touristy and overcrowded, and they lost our reservation...not sure how that happens. I had the fried calamari and lasagne for my entree....both were good, not bad, not excellent, but good. The service was kinda crappy as our waitress just came by to take our drink/food orders and then to ask if we wanted the check....not very attentive service but they seemed overcrowded and understaffed. The place was decent but I don't think I'd go back again!
(3)Maria R.
We were so pleasantly surprised by this place! We wandered in for a late lunch and at first wondered if it would be touristy. It wasn't! I had the most amazing pasta with fresh marinara! My husband had an amazing ziti with a pan tossed sausage & sun-dried tomato sauce. It was excellent-- so incredibly flavorful! We sat and had a nice long lunch with house wine and a lovely, open window view of the church next door. Will def. go back!
(4)Marcus D.
Came in here the day after Christmas with a couple of buddies - we were going to Umberto's for a slice and a rice ball but the line was absolutely ridiculous and in this city - real Bostonians will tell you: there is NOTHING worth waiting in line for AND there are way too many places to either eat or drink in where you do NOT have to wait in line. We walked by Lucia's, none of us had ever tried it, there were free tables, so why not. We weren't rushed out, the waitress was cute and attentive, pleasant and spoke Italian, and the mussels were excellent. Not a bad place for lunch, the prices were reasonable, and I wasn't making a beeline for the toilet after I ate.
(3)Lyssa A.
They served store-bought bread with butter before the meal. I'm in the North End, a famous Italian district, and they're serving me boring, stale white bread and butter instead of homemade, chewy, delicious bread dipped in olive oil with all sorts of seasonings? Sure, I'm an out-of-towner (from Austin) with great expectations, but come on. We should have left then. My meal was edible, but how do you mess up lobster ravioli? The red sauce was boring, but fine. My companion's chicken came on a plate solo with a side of sad-looking penne that looked like it had red sauce spilled on it--it wasn't really enough to look like it was supposed to be there. Couldn't they have slid some capellini under the chicken, so he could scoop up the (what should have been but wasn't) delicious white wine sauce with the noodles? The waiter also incessantly topped off our wine glasses, which isn't bad, but weird. There were a million warning signs (angry hostess without an Italian accent), including fairly poor yelp reviews. Heed them!
(1)mike G.
I would like to say I know Italian pretty and Lucia does a pretty good job. It's not too fancy and the price is right. The portions are large and the food is really good quality. I was a little upset when they tried to give away our table at 8:32 when we had reservations at 8:30. I got pretty pissed when they kept hassling us and when we got seated at the manager saw we were eating and drinking a lot, he came and apologized. In summary, good food at a reasonable price.
(4)Sarah S.
I checked out Lucia last week for restaurant week and the menu was so well priced that we ended up not even ordering off the RW menu. They had a great little selection of very affordable wines by the bottle (under $30!) and the food was DELICIOUS. I had the gnocchi al pesto and was in love with it. Our waiter was really friendly (not to mention cute. me-ow), and attentive without being nagging. The decor is inviting, we sat upstairs and liked the low celings covered in paintings. We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and a bottle of wine and our bill was still under $100 including a generous tip. Not bad at all!! I would definitely go back.
(4)Meaghan P.
My boyfriend and I brought our parents here to meet for the first time (eeks!) It was during one of the feasts that go on every weekend in the North End. We were loud as most Italian's are but our server was great! We were there for quite awhile but he never made us feel like we needed to leave or that he had other things to do like some servers do. He was always on top of getting us drinks and the food... the food was FANTASTIC!!!! The portions were large but not like humongous so some people were able to finish and some people were able to bring it home for lunch the next day! it was an amazing experience! loved it!
(5)Sami W.
I was there for restaurant week, so I ordered what's in the special Restaurant Week menu. Small portions, which is good for your belly but not for your pocket. The service was Great, our waiter was funny. The food was good, but I wasn't too impressed knowing how good this restaurant is. Maybe if I had ordered off the regular menu my opinion would have been different, I don't know, I'll have to get back to you on that, maybe when I get a raise or something (not anytime soon though).
(4)Elizaveta F.
The food and service at Lucia were exactly up to my expectations of a moderately priced North End restaurant, but nothing made it stand out from its many nearly identical neighbors. The dishes are "traditional Italian," i.e. cheesy, meaty, and fairly predictable. This is not a dining destination, but rather a place to find yourself, like I did, either by complete accident or because everywhere else is full.
(3)Jackie G.
We just ate here for Valentines Day. The food was delicious, well at least mine was! We started off with the bruschetta, which is hard to go wrong with so of course it was good. For an entree, i had the four cheese tortellini and my boyfriend had the chicken cacciatore. The four cheese tortellini was sooooo good, soo cheesy (obviously) oh it melted in my mouth. The chicken cacciatore was decent. its not my personal fav anyway. The portions were on the smaller side, i was expecting huge Italian servings which didn't happen but i was still filled up nonetheless. They made my martini just the way i like it... full of alcohol!! i was a big fan of the food and drink, the service was another story. We had a late reservation so we were the only ones (at the time) waiting to be seated. They told us it was going to be a minute which was fine it was Valentines Day. A few minutes later another couple walks in with the same 9:00 reservation, the host takes 2 menus to seat them, turns to us and goes are you all set or are you waiting for a table. Ummmmm helloooooooo, we've been standing here, you just asked us for our last name and reservation, earth to host. Naturally i expected him to seat us first but nooo he says "oh it will be just one minute" and proceeds to seat this other couple. its ok, i shook it off we were seated like a minute later. Next our waitress comes over (after we had been sitting there for 5 or so minutes) tells us the specials and then walks away. Hmm isn't that when you ask if we wanted something to drink, i thought so, maybe things work different here, maybe she had a long day whatever. She comes back about 10 minutes later and asks us for our drink order. As soon as we're done ordering our drinks she runs away. i wanted to order an appetizer but ok. She comes back 10 minutes later with our drinks and takes our order. We order (see above) and everything is fine. About 15 minutes later she comes back and asks "you didnt order and appetizer right, you just ordered your meals." We told her what we ordered she runs off and then brings us back our bruschetta. She is damn lucky they brought us out bread in a timely manner because i would have been eating the tablecloth at that point, 9:00 is a late dinner. Ok so they bring us the bruschetta and 1 minute later they bring us our food. i hate hate hate hate hate when they do that and then she apologizes that everything came out at once. Well obviously it came out at once, you forgot our friggen appetizer. Shes lucky the food was damn good. But i'm not done yet. My boyfriend was done eating, i was still picking. She comes over picks up his plate and then takes my plate right out from under me and walks away. She didn't even ask if i was done!!! What the hell. if the food wasn't so good i would probably give this place 1 star because the service sucks!!!
(4)Harris H.
not so fresh.......... one of the mussel was bad.
(1)Chinwe N.
I came here with a group from work late during the week. The service was average, the food was classic north end Italian, delicious and authentic. Overall, a solid night out but nothing distinguishable about it.
(4)Karen E.
While visiting our goddaughter who was graduating from Boston University, she wanted to treat us to a dinner out to celebrate our wedding anniversary. She took us to Lucia and we had a wonderful time! Our table was ready when we arrived, and we got to sit in the front window table, which was nice, because the window was open and it was nice and cool! We ordered sangria, and it was really delicious! The calamari fritti was good, but we could have used a little more sauce. The Bruschetta Napolitano was really yummy, and the Fusilli with shrimp, artichokes, asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes was superb. We enjoyed the panne cotta, but the best thing was the Torta! Amaretto and Hazelnut cake? Oh yeah, baby! It was amazing! Great cappuccino, too! Our water glasses were never empty. Our server was gracious and warm. It was a perfect meal and a wonderful celebration! Thank you so much!
(5)kkat m.
the best italian food i have ever had. i've realized that italian food in california (unless you're spending an arm and a leg) is really not good. we started off with bruschetta, which was pretty good. i had the linguini with clams in a white wine sauce. that was really good. i didn't really get around to tasting everyone else's dishes, mainly because they had veal, but everyone gave two thumbs up!
(4)Greg K.
Went their for Valentine's day this year, got a great booth. The other seats seemed tight but it was Valentine's Day so of course it was going to be jam packed. Good fried calamari, even better entrees I got a gnocchi dish with veal in it that was recommended to me by the couple who lived upstairs (We chatted with them while waiting for our table) Sarah got a chicken dish, the Pollo Alla Francesco which was fantastic. It took a little while for the waiter to warm up to us but he was friendly and helpful by the time we ordered. I would definitely go back and recommend it to all of you.
(5)Ben J.
Had dinner our first night in Boston and was not disappointed. The food and atmosphere seemed to be very authentic. I'm not Italian so I say "seemed." The only negative was the waiter seemed to feel it was a major inconvenience to split a check up. With computer systems and as a former waiter of many years this seemed ridiculous. Food and atmosphere were fantastic though.
(4)Elle W.
My boyfriend and I took my parents here on Sunday and we had a nice dinner. They had some nice wines on their list, but their red wine is served very hot, we needed an ice bucket to get ours down to a good temperature. The service was okay, and the food was good, but they put the four of us in a tiny booth and we were cramped the whole meal. The appetizers were definitely the highlight. Our caprese was fabulous and the bruschetta was tasty but hard to eat; the bread was a bit chewy and it was hard to keep their big slices together. We all ordered pasta dishes and their pastas and sauces are all nice, nothing outstanding. My mom really liked her penne with sausage, but my boyfriend ordered the special of the night- Scrod with risotto- and the scrod was underseasoned and piled with greasy breadcumbs. It was saved only by the deliciously creamy risotto that accompanied it. If you want parmesan they only have the powdered, from a bottle kind and they sprinkle it on your plate with a spoon. Overall the food was okay as was the service. I would recommend doing a bunch of appetizers and a bottle of wine.
(3)Julia F.
I talked my two little sisters, my Nonna and one of my parents to join me for Restaurant Week this year. I was almost praised by my mother for thinking of it (though I didn't think of Restaurant Week, I'll take credit as far as she's concerned). We chose Lucia because my little sister and I were hungry when we were looking at the menus online and we saw that they had four courses. We figured if there was one place we should be... it's a place that has a pasta course before you get your entrée. We called the night before to make a reservation and the guy on the phone had a hard time hearing me, but we got what we wanted. We showed up just at 7:30, and were seated immediately in the middle of the ground floor. The hustle and bustle is impressive in this little place! The pure volume of the other tables is customary for our household, but I can imagine it could be jarring for others. The only thing I didn't like about the décor was that they had uneven sconces on the walls. It was very nerve-wracking - once the food arrived I had very little time to think about it though. My father and I had a glass of an Australian Shiraz, which was very nice, and very full. I started with the Insalata Caprese, which was just what I had hoped for. A little olive oil and vinegar to put on top! I then had the Straccetti alla Paglia e Fieno, which had a nice cream sauce that was light enough not to bog down the hand cut pasta, amazing when done right, which I think it was. My entrée was the Braciolettine di Pollo alla Griglia - just enough mozzarella cheese to balance out the prosciutto - the broccoli tasted lightly of lemon. This dish was really good, and not a large enough serving to make me over full. My little sisters got the veal and the seafood risotto - they said they were really good as well (which is high praise cause they are VERY PICKY) the veal was reported to be very tender and my baby sister said the carrots that came with it were "bomb". The wait staff was attentive and joked back with my dad when he tried to make wisecracks... This is always a good sign; he's not very funny. These guys were well trained. For dessert, I got the panna cotta which was really good, the sauce was a little too light for my taste, a little thicker would have sealed the deal for me. My little sister got the fragile all Umbriaco which was also really tasty - it was a little more like cleansing the palate, but that is what I believe a single - shot espresso is for which I ordered, and to my disappointment it didn't come with a little slice of lemon. Boo. I would definitely come again. It was a nice place. They flipped the lights out to sing happy birthday to somebody at a window table and everybody joined in a rowdy "happy birthday" it was as close to family dining with separate tables I've seen in a long time.
(4)Ben K.
It was fine. Basic Italian food. Knocking down two stars because the gnocchi are not homemade, the prices were high, and you can get way better Italian food in Boston. For the same price range, go to Giacamo's, for more pricey (but amazing food), go to Via Matta. All things considered, it's not bad if it's the only place that's not full.
(3)Greg K.
Went their for Valentine's day this year, got a great booth. The other seats seemed tight but it was Valentine's Day so of course it was going to be jam packed. Good fried calamari, even better entrees I got a gnocchi dish with veal in it that was recommended to me by the couple who lived upstairs (We chatted with them while waiting for our table) Sarah got a chicken dish, the Pollo Alla Francesco which was fantastic. It took a little while for the waiter to warm up to us but he was friendly and helpful by the time we ordered. I would definitely go back and recommend it to all of you.
(5)Julia F.
I talked my two little sisters, my Nonna and one of my parents to join me for Restaurant Week this year. I was almost praised by my mother for thinking of it (though I didn't think of Restaurant Week, I'll take credit as far as she's concerned). We chose Lucia because my little sister and I were hungry when we were looking at the menus online and we saw that they had four courses. We figured if there was one place we should be... it's a place that has a pasta course before you get your entrée. We called the night before to make a reservation and the guy on the phone had a hard time hearing me, but we got what we wanted. We showed up just at 7:30, and were seated immediately in the middle of the ground floor. The hustle and bustle is impressive in this little place! The pure volume of the other tables is customary for our household, but I can imagine it could be jarring for others. The only thing I didn't like about the décor was that they had uneven sconces on the walls. It was very nerve-wracking - once the food arrived I had very little time to think about it though. My father and I had a glass of an Australian Shiraz, which was very nice, and very full. I started with the Insalata Caprese, which was just what I had hoped for. A little olive oil and vinegar to put on top! I then had the Straccetti alla Paglia e Fieno, which had a nice cream sauce that was light enough not to bog down the hand cut pasta, amazing when done right, which I think it was. My entrée was the Braciolettine di Pollo alla Griglia - just enough mozzarella cheese to balance out the prosciutto - the broccoli tasted lightly of lemon. This dish was really good, and not a large enough serving to make me over full. My little sisters got the veal and the seafood risotto - they said they were really good as well (which is high praise cause they are VERY PICKY) the veal was reported to be very tender and my baby sister said the carrots that came with it were "bomb". The wait staff was attentive and joked back with my dad when he tried to make wisecracks... This is always a good sign; he's not very funny. These guys were well trained. For dessert, I got the panna cotta which was really good, the sauce was a little too light for my taste, a little thicker would have sealed the deal for me. My little sister got the fragile all Umbriaco which was also really tasty - it was a little more like cleansing the palate, but that is what I believe a single - shot espresso is for which I ordered, and to my disappointment it didn't come with a little slice of lemon. Boo. I would definitely come again. It was a nice place. They flipped the lights out to sing happy birthday to somebody at a window table and everybody joined in a rowdy "happy birthday" it was as close to family dining with separate tables I've seen in a long time.
(4)Ben K.
It was fine. Basic Italian food. Knocking down two stars because the gnocchi are not homemade, the prices were high, and you can get way better Italian food in Boston. For the same price range, go to Giacamo's, for more pricey (but amazing food), go to Via Matta. All things considered, it's not bad if it's the only place that's not full.
(3)Katlyn R.
The food was good, but nothing really to write home about. The chicken parm was good, and the tortellini were very good. It didn't blow me away, but my only real complaint was how quickly everything came out. We had barely gotten halfway through our appetizer before our meals came out, which is a major pet peeve of mine. Oh, and there was something floating in my boyfriend's wine. Overall, I probably won't be back, and they should really slow down their service a bit.
(3)Ben J.
Had dinner our first night in Boston and was not disappointed. The food and atmosphere seemed to be very authentic. I'm not Italian so I say "seemed." The only negative was the waiter seemed to feel it was a major inconvenience to split a check up. With computer systems and as a former waiter of many years this seemed ridiculous. Food and atmosphere were fantastic though.
(4)Elle W.
My boyfriend and I took my parents here on Sunday and we had a nice dinner. They had some nice wines on their list, but their red wine is served very hot, we needed an ice bucket to get ours down to a good temperature. The service was okay, and the food was good, but they put the four of us in a tiny booth and we were cramped the whole meal. The appetizers were definitely the highlight. Our caprese was fabulous and the bruschetta was tasty but hard to eat; the bread was a bit chewy and it was hard to keep their big slices together. We all ordered pasta dishes and their pastas and sauces are all nice, nothing outstanding. My mom really liked her penne with sausage, but my boyfriend ordered the special of the night- Scrod with risotto- and the scrod was underseasoned and piled with greasy breadcumbs. It was saved only by the deliciously creamy risotto that accompanied it. If you want parmesan they only have the powdered, from a bottle kind and they sprinkle it on your plate with a spoon. Overall the food was okay as was the service. I would recommend doing a bunch of appetizers and a bottle of wine.
(3)Maria P.
My friend and I decided to go to the North End for dinner on a saturday but we both forgot to make reservations. We tried getting seats at about 9 different places before we ended up at Lucia. We were glad that we could get out of the cold and actually be seated at a table so I'm a little biased. The food was surprisingly good however. My friend had the tortellini soup and it was ok. Her salad (I don't remember what it was called) was amazing, the dressing was the best I've ever tasted. I will probably go back just to have this again. I had the veal scaloppini sautéed with mushrooms, it was great. The sauce was amazing, I just had to sop up the leftover sauce with bread (which isn't the greatest by the way). Portions were pretty big, so my friend and I decided to skip dessert. The service wasn't great but the food made up for that. They usually don't have an hour long wait unlike most restaurants on Hanover street, so if you're starving and don't want to wait for another two hours to get a table then go here.
(4)Cliff L.
There's a lot of good restaurants in the North End, and Lucia ranks right up there with them. The food is excellent and the service is great. The stuffed veal chop was to die for. I've been there a couple of times now, and the wait has been reasonable, the added bonus was that they have valet parking for $15. And if that sounds like a "so what" then you've never tried to find a parking spot in the North End on a weekend. Not having the hassle of having to park is just icing on the cake.
(5)Heegs a.
We were sitted on the second floor room. It certainly had the old cheesey Italian feel with all the mirrors and cheese photos pasted all over the walls. I had the chicken parm. It was delicious.
(4)Lia M.
I adore this restaurant. The food is excellent and the prices moderate. None of the staff was unfriendly or snobby, as I have found at other Boston restaurants. It's a bit small, but the murals on the walls are beautiful. The mussels entree (linguine con cozze) is delicious. I had never tried mussels before, and this was a great introduction. Definately a place to try.
(5)Mark D.
A great little Italian restaurant that served a petty tasty lunch. I got the pollo parmesan which was very filling. The booths are a little tight and the service was fantastic.
(4)MaryLee B.
Just back from a great dinner at Lucia. I went with a Meetup Group and since you can have a lot of "no shows" opted not to deal with a reservation. It is a tuesday night and it snowed AGAIN today so I figured we would have no problem getting seated. Mike our server was very accomodating gratiously agreeing to our request for seperate checks. I had pre-selected a Gamberi Arrabiata which is shrimp sautéed with mushrooms, anchovies in a hot spicy sauce and served over a bed of linguine online, and even though it wasn't on the menu, no problem. It was excellent!! All five of us really enjoyed our meals and I would definitely go back to Lucia.
(5)Nicole B.
the food deserves a 3. they're pretty average. you can go just about any place else in the north end and get the same thing, if not better. however, i am wiling to make this a 3.5 due to their panna cotta...yummy yummy! service was also a 3. average. nice, friendly, but nothing over the top. price: it's one of the best priced dinner places in the north end. probably because they know it cannot compare to most other places there. also, because it is rarely packed. i've always been able to get seated right away (this again probably has to do with other places being better). also...that panna cotta. delish!
(3)Liz B.
I really enjoyed my dinner here recently. My boyfriend and I went with another couple. Our table was ready upon arrival. Thankfully, they had valet service, so we didn't have to find a place to park on Hanover Street. There isn't a big waiting area, so I wouldn't arrive too early before a reservation, unless you don't mind waiting outside. The tables were super close together, which is a pain when you're trying to get in and out of your seat. The waiter at first seemed like he was trying to rush us through dinner, but then he was fine. I did notice he had A LOT of tables to tend to, which could have been why he was hurrying with us. The food (the most important part) was great. Our party had bruschetta, gnocchi, chicken and eggplant parmigiana and a chicken dish w/ artichokes and olives. We went on a Sunday evening at 6pm and the place was packed, a great sign!
(4)H L.
I kind of suspected this might not be the right place to eat while in North End when I saw their website with menu. It wasn't too inspiring. It is relatively a big place with 3 level dining floors but a tiny little men's room in the basement of 6'x7' and they crammed in 2 urinals neck to neck and a shallow cubicle and 2 mini sinks-it was really embarrassing to stand next to another guest as there is no privacy whatsoever. The food we had was Italian style salads with cured meat, pasta, pollo marsala, veal, eggplant rolls. It sounds yummy but the taste wasn't consistent. Some were well-made, but salad and the eggplant were bland, especially, the frying oil from the eggplants tastes like it was used for over a week. I was not impressed with any of the food we had, especially when I expect better authentic Italian quality in North End- This wasn't my choice but I was invited. Tacky decor of mirror tricks and dark lighting is something from early 90s but it cannot beat other popular locations with upscale decors or simply with better foods. However, the ice cream dessert and the coffee were excellent and the friendly host at the door and the well-trained Italian Waiter did their job well. But, the other waiter serving our group was a Mexican looking and did not speak English at all in the entire night.
(2)Neha P.
Food was okay. Nothing special, have tasted better... and def. not worth the price!! To top the reasoning for the two stars: well, our waitress was good, very accommodating to our needs, however the manager at the door was very rude! The whole time, she was staring at me while I ate and never broke a smile. We're very nice people, and did not give her any reason for that type of behavior. So in summary, will not be returning to that restaurant... EVER!!
(2)Tom C.
Food was good, but nothing great. Prices seem reasonable, but portions are ridiculously small compared to other restaurants in the north end. Service was good, beer was cold, and ambiance wasn't bad.
(3)Tim C.
One of the more accommodating places to eat in the North End, Lucia is located right across the street from the Paul Revere statue near the Old North Church. Prices are generally between $10-$14 per entree, yet it should be noted if you would like a side order of broccoli it will cost you an additional $6.50. Yes, six dollars and fifty cents. That aside, the one occasion I dined there the staff put together a couple of tables to seat the party of eight I was with, and the service was quick and smooth. The food won't knock your socks off, but it is certainly above average, and that's saying a lot for Boston Italian food. I enjoyed my meal quite a bit and was left wanting more, which might indicate the portions could be a little larger, though it didn't seem to be a problem for anyone else. The restaurant itself is rather small but quaint, with a room-wide mural spanning the ceiling. ...There are also a lot of mirrors, though, so don't worry if you fear you will be claustrophobic.
(4)Bonnie M.
The food was very good. The hostess was kinda rude and unprofessional, the waitress was a bit dim. I had the lobster ravioli, very good. The only problem really was the valet which is why I didn't give it a higher rating. We didn't assume it was free valet but a lot of places are free valet..so we d didn't know what to expect. It was $20. So we had a little sticker shock and said 'wow $20?' The valet said 'what? Did you think it complementary?' And he said it in a mocking tone that we didn't appreciate..and on top of it he backed the car up 4 feet from where we parked and we discovered they didn't even lock the car. When they retrieved the keys for us they took them off the floor and handed them to us. I know it was close but do you really think they were watching it the whole time? How hard would it be for $20 to lock up and hold onto the key? Needless to say I won't be valet parking there again but I would eat there again.
(3)Stellina M.
First of all the staff at Lucia is probably among the best trained in town! Hats up to the owner who knows her job...The food is good, the ambiance is very romantic. Try their homemade pasta! The frescoes are not as many as the ones at Filippo but still beautiful.
(4)Jill C.
A small but appealing family-run Italian restaurant in the North End. We were greeted by the friendly proprietor and offered a seat in the bar while we waited for our guest, who arrived promptly. We only had to wait a couple of minutes for our table in the window across from the fire station. Great people watching location. Drinks were brought promptly, and the waitress asked several times, rather insistently, if we wanted starters. We were busy talkiing and hadn't had time to peruse the menu properly, but she hovered until we made our selection, rather than offering to come back a few minutes later. I definitely felt rushed. The entrees arrived a very short time later - we each remaked on fast it had been. We had the pesto gnocchi, the chicken/eggplant parmagiana and the veal piccata. We were each pleased with our selections which were hot, tasy and nicely presented. The waitress continue to hover and whisked away the empty plates the moment we were finished, leaving our guest still working on her plate while ours had disappeared. Although we each felt that the quality of the good was good and the atmosphere was pleasant, we felt decidedly rushed. They seemed eager to turn the tables at least one more time that night !
(4)Robyn R.
Hey, we had a great experience at Lucia, partly because it was our last night in Boston and we were hoping for something great, and it actually was great. When you've heard wonderful things about the North End and walk up and down the street searching for restaurants and eventually pick one almost at random, and then it's just okay, as happened the previous night, you get antsy about what will happen on your last evening out. And then you stop into Lucia sort of accidentally because it looks like you can get seated right away, and it lives up to expectations! Yay! I was fixated on papardelle that night and actually got to have it--always nice to satisfy a craving. Plus our waiter was super cool and laid back and managed to sell me (a penny pincher who rarely drinks) a $12 glass of sangria. Good for vegetarians, good overall.
(5)Larry O.
Wandering through the North End, I found this restaurant on the quieter end of the street. The service was quick and very friendly. The waiter was very attentive and charming, and the atmosphere was very cozy and clean. The place is on the small side, but does not feel it as it has many mirrors and murals on the walls. The food was delicious, and I highly reccomend it to anyone with a craving for italian.
(5)Catherine E.
I've been to Lucia's twice - the first time I remember loving it. The second time, I wasn't disappointed, but wouldn't say I was impressed either. The first time I had lunch, sat downstairs, and had chicken parm. The second time I had dinner, sat upstairs, and had penne primavera. First and foremost, the service was excellent. I had made a reservation, and they were ready as soon as we came in. Our waiter was also very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Overall the food was good, but the atmosphere upstairs confused me. The ceiling is suppose to be a replica of the Sistine Chapel, but it felt almost cartoonish to me. I felt as if I were in an Italian-themed restaurant and not an authentic Italian eatery. I was also disappointed that they were out of Spumone - but impressed they had it on the menu. I will certainly give Lucia's another shot, but I think there are many other restaurants in the North End that outshine it.
(3)Brian G.
Great service, very friendly staff and good food. It is not the best food in the North End but the people and attitude of this place make it my favorite sit down Italian place to go to in the North End. They have solid calamari, veal and chicken parm as well. Donato the owner makes sure to make all the customers feel like a high roller, if you are looking to impress someone on a date or look like a North End insider come to Lucia.
(4)Andrew S.
Awesome, but it's no Massimino's (Endicott St. in North End).
(4)Kelly W.
Went here for dinner last week and it was great. I had the chicken marsala and the two people I was with got the chicken parmesan and maccheroni chitarra (homemade egg pasta). Also, our waiter was very attentive. We went during Restaurant Week and they were supposed to be participating, but there was no special menu.
(4)Kristen D.
I've been to this restaurant several times over the last four years and it's pretty much changed how I think of italian food. Don't get me wrong, I've been to some fantastic places for dinner, but Fillippo's has to be the best. First of all, I love the decor - it shows that the owner has so much pride in his restaurant. The first time I went here, the owner himself sat our group and made small talk until the server came over. Our server was wonderful - when my mom asked what was good, he answered by asking what she was in the mood for and out came a signature dish created to my mom's tastes that evening. The food is fantastic and you can tell it's created with a lot of care by the people who work there. Always hot and fresh and yummy tasting. Desserts are to die for. I dont live in Boston anymore but whenever I'm there, I try to make a visit here since it more than satisfies my italian carb craving =)
(5)Holly M.
Went here for Restaurant Week... didn't even see the R Week Menu. I looked, I swear...so I decided to just order off the regular menu. Anyway, we got there on time and were seated within 10 minutes of arriving. Kinda frustrating, but everyone was super nice...so it was ok. One thing we noticed right away, NO AC. I mean it was so humid in there we could have steamed some veggies, but no AC on. Wow, kinda hard to eat a hot Italian meal in that kind of heat. Geesh! The service was great, our server was super friendly and quick. Amen cause I thought I was loosing weight as we sat in the sauna. I order something plain and it was quite tasty. My date ordered a huge pasta dish and he seemed extremely pleased. We sat on the main floor and I really did enjoy the Christian murals and paintings. It was cool and felt very old world Italy. Overall, food and service were good. But the heat and the wait lowered the score for me. Ciao!
(3)Michael G.
This place has good Italian food with decent prices. The restaurant's pretty small, but the ambience is nice. The most striking thing is the large religious murals on the walls and ceilings. The place still feels plenty open, though, and not crammed like some other restaurants.
(4)Julia C.
Lucia is very a very nice place to stop by around 7 pm after you have visited the North End. The service is good and fast and you can ask to make you something special and thay will be happy to serve you. Nice wine list. Enjoy.
(4)Alex K.
I have eaten here 4 times and Lucia has clearly gone downhill. We ate there on a recent Saturday night and the food was OK. However the service was quite bad. Bad enough that it was a distraction from the meal..they didn't clear appetizer and entrée plates for 10 minutes after we were done. When my friend ordered a second bottle of wine the waitress opened it and just poured a huge glass for him - didn't allow him to taste it. This is the most basic of all server functions -properly serving wine in an Italian restaurant and she failed big time. They did not refill our water and 4 of us had empty water glasses. Also as someone else said they serve store bought stale cold bread, which is a bad indication of how they see the food. I had a chicken picatta type dish that was just average. Sadly I won't be going back and I can not recommend Lucia for anyone else. The food and service is what you expect at a much cheaper restaurant.
(2)Mike R.
I went to Lucia this past weekend with 3 friends visiting from out of town. Since Giacomo's was full and a line (as per usual on a pleasant Saturday evening, despite the Patriots playoff game) and we were hungry, we kept going up Hanover St. looking for a place. The menu isn't "nouveau" cuisine, but it was excellent standard Italian-American food which is what we were looking for. The service was extremely efficient and friendly, and everyone in my party was happy with their dinner. I had the shrimp cacciatore and the sauce was well done, shrimp were large and not overcooked, and overall was a very pleasant dinner. My only complaint was it wasn't cheap - for a meal that didn't even come with a side salad or anything it was I believe $16.95. The portions were adequate though, and not so much that we left stuffed (which was actually pretty nice - and especially nice since Mike's Pastry is a couple blocks down the street. We didn't even try dessert here since Mike's is AWESOME!) Overall I'd recommend this place - and I'd definitely come back myself.
(4)Peter H.
Competent. On what was admittedly a busy Friday night, we were seated reasonably quickly, but it took a while for our drink and food order to be taken. The food then arrived in reassuringly quick sequence and it was surprisingly good, particularly the rack of lamb, which was outstanding. The wine (Chardonnay) and service were also memorably good. It was rather noisy (aided by the 18-member female dance troupe on a Friday night out at the next table), but I think that's standard for the North End in high tourist session. Good enough.
(3)Jackie C.
This was amazing! My brother was visiting and wanted to try real Italian food in the North End. So my husband found this place and it was beautiful inside. The ceiling was stunning and so nice that it gave the room a bigger feel than it actually was. Our waitress was very sweet and gave great recommendations on food. We will definitely be back for great pasta!
(5)Vlako V.
Great service, great food :) I hit four stars cause I had to wait a little longer for the food. But it's a great place! I'll definitely go next time over there.
(4)Tony M.
I have been to this restaurant before and had a great experience so last night when I was in the area with my family I decided to take them to Lucia's; what a mistake that was. We got to the restaurant a little after 4 and were promptly sat, there were only three to four tables filed and they were all receiving their meals when we walked in. As soon as we sat down the water girl came over and filled our glasses, little did we know that would be the last time any one came to help us. We sat at our table for about 20 minutes and never once did someone come talk to us or ask for a drink order. There seemed to have been only one server and he was just walking around not doing anything. At one point I caught him standing by the door staring at us and when he saw me look at him he quickly turned away from us as if he was purposely staying away. We eventually got up and left but not without warning the couple that was sat next to us about not getting served. We of course let the hostess know on the way out and they tried to get us to come back by telling us they would "make sure" we were served. We ended up finding another quiet restaurant in the north end and in the 20 minutes we waited at Lucia's we received drinks, bread, and an appetizer. It will be a long time before I go to Lucia's again if I ever do.
(1)Jocelyn K.
Yum! That's what I have to say about this place!! Great food, great service!! And friendly people working here. We had the stuffed veal chop and bow tie pasta with scallops and lobster. Flavors were just amazing from the salad through the entree. Michelle served us, and I would recommend asking for her. Just a super nice person!!
(5)Jonathan N.
Foods are pretty good but over prices. The services was great. The staffs was very helpful and friendly. The restaurant was a bit small compare to other restaurants on Hangover street but it was clean and well lite inside.
(3)Kim B.
Gwynn and I left her apartment in search of some Italian food. Thankfully, she lives 1 block from Hanover St. Given both of us drinking far too much for the past month, we both went with soft drinks. Gwynn ordered the Bruschetta and a side of meatballs, and I got the fettucine alfredo. I also asked for bread. The service was SO fast that they gave us our food when they brought the bread! I would have been mad if this were any other day... but it was SO hot outside, and we were SO tired, that the fast service was exactly what we needed! Both are meals were very good, and I would definitely go back for Italian. The decor has the authentic Italian feel, that makes you feel like its a family restaurant on a side street in Florence. It isn't necessarily intimate or romantic, but is great for a family/friend gathering. I loved it!
(4)Christina T.
We came here last time we visited the North End and the lasagna brought me back. It has many layers and is just mouthwatering. Their salads are also huge - I learned my lesson last time after ordering the beet salad which Beets over a bed of Arugula, red wine vinaigrette, and shaved Ricotta Salata. It was enough for a meal, which left little room for my meal. This time I had the lasagna again and my husband had the Braciolettine Limone (Veal, rolled with Prosciutto and Mozzarella and a Citrus White Wine Sauce). I ended up eating most of his dish and he had my lasagna. Both were delicious and I'd stop again if we were back visiting Boston and the North end.
(4)Jenn Z.
It's a pity that I really enjoyed the food here but found the service to be a bit of a disappointment. Although it was nice to be seated despite not having the entire party present, our waiter was barely available during the course of the meal. Despite having taken our request for bread, the waiter disappeared for almost half an hour before returning to take our order. I had to mention the bread request a second time before it was served. Our food also came a bit slow after the order and moreover, the wrong dishes were brought to us twice during the meal. Also, no one came to refill the water throughout the night and again, it was necessary to explicitly request for the refill. Overall, I think the food was pretty tasty but given the service and other options available in the area, I'm not sure if I'd be willing to return here any time soon.
(2)CA O.
Lucia's went through a renovation a few years ago to help brighten things up, but don't worry, the frescos on the ceiling remain! The place is still cozy, with small booths along the windows and a warm, inviting vibe. The service is sometimes great, sometimes okay, depending upon how busy they are. Those with disabilities should be warned that the bathrooms are down a flight of steep stairs. The food is delicious, especially the veal carrozzella. Fun fact: Lucia's and Artu are (or at least were) owned by a divorced couple who would direct people to the other when one was too busy. They serve very similar food, so if you're looking for a cozy, possibly romantic meal, head to Lucia's, and if you're looking for a more modern, busy place with a bar scene, give Artu a try.
(4)Kelsey H.
My friends and I were wandering around trying to find an Italian place to eat and came across Lucia. We were originally going to go somewhere else but he line was down the street and all the way around the corner! Lucia had no line and the food was pretty good and decently priced. They had upstairs seating to accommodate extra customers. My friends wanted chicken parm and this was the first place that we came across that had it and didn't have a wait. The chicken entrees were pretty good but the best dish we had was the bruschetta appetizer! Juicy plump diced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella... Plus the waitress brought us olive oil and balsamic for our bread so I added some balsamic to the bruschetta for that perfect touch! We ordered a bottle of Pinot noir too, the first one on the menu and it was pretty good, but a little pricey for a 35 dollar bottle... I'm sure their more expensive wines were better!
(3)David F.
To get straight to the point - horrible food. Staff was friendly but that's the only positive aspect. Out of the 6 dishes we ordered, one of them was adequate, and it was a soup. The pesto pasta was something I could have gotten frozen from a grocery store, but it was $17 and didn't have pine nuts like the menu said. The roasted beet salad was actually boiled beets and was cold. The tomato sauce was salty and flavorless. The other dishes were a clam dish and a veal dish as well as a bruschetta. Although they were mediocre quality, it was incredibly overpriced: $3 per slice of bread. If there were people waiting to be seated I would have alerted them to seek out another restaurant.
(2)Amy G.
We came here in a group of ~30 and Lucia's staff served us efficiently and with a friendly attitude. I was a little disappointed that the menu was fixed for us, but I totally understand that establishing each dish beforehand makes large parties much more manageable. While Lucia's looks like one of those fancy restaurants where they would serve you tiny mounds of food in the center of giant white plates, that could not be further from the truth--I have to comment on the sheer amount of food they gave us. I was sitting at a table for six and they would give us two generous plates of each course, where one would of probably been ample. Play-by-play of meal: heaping plates of antipasto, bread and butter, vegetarian penne, eggplant rollatini, chicken marsala, fried fish, and last but not least a medley of desserts. I liked the vegetarian penne dish and the eggplant rollatini (I scraped off the cheese) the best. One of the best parts is that they don't waste food. I really appreciated that one waitresses reassured us that nothing would be thrown out. Everything that we left over from each course they took back to the kitchen and packed, so that we had stacks of boxes from which to choose our favorites to take home.
(3)Erica I.
That was a whole bunch of nope. If you're going to charge $21 for a not-so-fresh, dry veal parm cutlet, at least fry it in clean oil! The eggplant parm was soggy (and seed-y), and the sauce really didn't have much flavor. The waitress was attentive and friendly. I feel like this is more of a two and a half star place, but I rounded up for the waitress. So unfortunate.
(3)Jane C.
Great service. Place was crowded as all hell but things ran really smoothly for us in terms of hostesses and waiters. But food was so so. Calamari was excellent but gnocchi were really overcooked and crumbly. Pesto was good. Friend had spaghetti with clamp but the pasta portion was miniscule.
(3)Keith C.
Our recommendation to dine at Lucia's came from the W Hotel concierge, where we were staying. The food is excellent and the ambiance is more pleasant, inviting and warm than we had expected. The valet parking is a must on a Saturday (when we went). The service was good, very prompt. In fact, my only constructive criticism would be to slow down the service. It was so quick we didn't really have time to enjoy the place as much as we would have liked.
(4)S M.
I'd give it a 4.5 if halfs were allowed... Food was tasty, fresco/ambiance made you feel Italian, and unlike many spots nearby (who shall not be named), it looks like it was updated fairly recently. I plan in going back!
(5)Jr M.
I have eaten there many times. The food is outstanding. My favorite is the Saltimboca. The best I have ever had. They have a great Veal Chop as well. Prices are reasonable, service is good. For the money, the value is really good. There are many other fancy places in the North End, they are very good, but expensive and you will wait to sit. Lucia's is one of my favorites in the North End.
(5)Nitya D.
For the price, location, and quality of the food, I think Lucia's is a solid restaurant in an area already inundated with restaurants offering essentially the exact same menu. I came here on a Saturday night and was able to put my name on the list at 7 pm and had to wait about 20-25 minutes for an available table. i was eating with family and we had 2 little kids in our party. Since they were getting hungry, we asked our waitress to put their order in first; their food was out within just a few minutes and my little cousins happily gobbled up their tortellini. We ordered bruschetta for the table as well as bread with an olive tapenade. I had a couple of glasses of the Gabbiano chianti, which I found to be medium bodied and complemented my meal well. For my entree I ordered the tratturo antic with capers. It was essentially penne tossed in a white wine and garlic sauce with lots of veggies. It was totally delicious and I had enough to take home. I think everything was priced pretty fairly (~$15-20 for a pasta entree) given the location and some of other prices in the area. Service was friendly and quick. Had a very nice dinner and will definitely go back again.
(4)Christine C.
The food, service and atmosphere is excellent! Never a disappointment. The staff is friendly and very professional. The Chicken Sagitario melts in your mouth. Delicious sangria---hand made pasta---we brought our kids. We asked for something that wasn't on the menu & they made it anyway---the kids ate everything----after a long day in Boston with the fishermen's feast, bouncy houses, the carousel & spray park on the greenway & shopping---when I asked my 6 year old, what her favorite part of the day was she said it was the food! And kid's don't lie---so it's that good. I highly recommend.
(5)Ryan L.
Not a great experience back in March. This was one of the few restaurants that had a table open during a damp/cold night, so we jumped at the chance (now we've learned that lines are a GREAT thing in most cases). The atmosphere was a tight squeeze, as they have three different levels of tight squeezing for your tight squeezing pleasure. Ordered gnocchi with alfredo sauce. Gnocchi was okay, but didn't seem homemade in the slightest. Sauce was runny, and didn't stick to the gnocchi at all. Waitress took her good old time, and was surprised that we weren't impressed with their lackluster effort. Was so disappointed in the entire experience. Certainly know better for next time around in North End.
(1)Paul A.
Same party as last year only one week later. Only change from menu was tortellini replaced gnocci. Same results in service, food quality, and timing. The drinks could have been better. Seemed watered-down. Cost a star. Valet still $20.00.
(3)Lauren M.
So, boyfriend and I meet up with his two siblings and all of our significant others in Boston this past weekend, and Lucia's comes up on Open Table as having open reservations for a party of 6 on a Saturday for 7:30. Sold. We got there, and literally didn't wait a single second to be seated. This is the only positive thing I have to say about our experience. We got seated in the very back corner on the top floor, and it was cozy. By cozy I mean it was hot up there and we were close together. And then we waited. To put it in perspective: we arrived at 7:30 sharp, were seated instantly, did NOT order appetizers, and didn't get our food until 8:45. We waited an hour and 15 minutes to get dinner. That's CRAZY! I think our waitress came over like 15 minutes after we had arrived and just brought us water and then left. Ok...thanks, because it was super hot up there on the third floor, but can you just let me order please? And the food was awful! I got the pollo foccacia, which arrived borderline cold, and was two pre-cooked chicken breasts covered with gross cafeteria style melted cheese in an average quality lemon sauce. And for decoration there were like 5 sliced olives right from the can just scattered across the top. My boyfriend got veal parm, which was literally the worst thing in the entire world. It was so dry and chewy, like it had been sitting under the heat lamps for an hour (it probably had been, honestly). He ate like three bites, and then filled up on linguine because he was starving by this point. Another person in our group got the gnocchi, and said it was "alright" but we all agreed that the sauce tasted like it came from a can, and no one's food was even close to hot when it came out. Also, we were so freaking hot the whole time, and everyone's water glasses were always empty! Just leave a pitcher on the table! I think the kicker for me was at the end of the meal, when the waitress finally appeared and asked if we wanted boxes for all of our uneaten food, and we told her it wasn't very good so we wouldn't be taking it home. She literally was just like "Oh, that's unfortunate" and just left. She got the check and did nothing about it. She didn't take anything off the bill, she just sort of looked at us sympathetically. It was really weird. I'm disappointed because the North End is supposed to be the best of the best, and we forked over $250+ to be ignored, overheated, and served lukewarm and ill-prepared food. I will not be going back.
(1)Tom W.
What a great find! We had just visited the North End a couple of days before, so I was surprised that we found ourselves there again. Then we found Lucia's! My wife had linguini vongole (with clams) and enjoyed EVERY bit. She normally will leave 'a little something' on the plate, but not today. My pollo focaccia was amazing. The balance between the chicken, prosciutto and cheese was amazing. My wife even joined in with me to finish mine! You HAVE to stop here when in the North End!
(5)Aman M.
I asked the server to recommend one dish out of the two options, and was expecting her to describe about the two dishes. She had nothing new to add than what was written in the menu. I picked one dish - chicken with asparagus and other vegetables. It was a horrible dish and I did not enjoy my experience there. Even though I was extremely hungry, I ended up finishing half of my dish, and did not even ask them to have it packed to go. Even the bread served in the beginning was served cold! Two thumbs down.
(2)Michele M.
Okay, we admit that we could've eaten here daily during out honeymoon, but stopped in just twice. Funny, we even ordered the same thing for both meals! Nice that there are tons of Italian restaurants in Boston's North End, so during both visits we had no problem just slipping in and getting seated. I had the vongole pasta which was steamed clams with olive oil, Italian parlsey and garlic. The clams were super fresh, as to be expected in that region. The flavors were so delicous! Oh - and the lemon squeezes topped off this simple yet addicting pasta dish!! Husband had the arugula salad topped with parmesan shavings and balsamic vinegar. Another simple yet classy selection! Just thinking about Lucia makes me want to take a trip to the grocery store for the vongole ingredients to experience Boston all over again...
(5)Matt P.
Classic Italian place! Great atmosphere! Love the frescoes. The food is unparalleled, simple, classic Italian. Just like Grandma used to make! Warm and cozy. And, reasonably priced. One of my favorites in Boston.
(5)Eliza L.
Skip this one, really. Just when you can't get bad Italian food in the North End, you're wrong. The bruschetta was great. Had the white bean with pasta soup, it was ok except it came cold. When asked for some grated Parmesan cheese for it, skip it. They only have the ones that taste like it came from the foil packets. I ordered the "special" which was the lamb shank Skip this one too- tastes like the barn. Quite disappointing given that there are so many fabulous restaurants in the north end. Definitely do not recommend this place.
(1)Melanie E.
Some friends and I were wanting to eat in the North End and Lucia was the only place that had availability for a group our size. The hostess told us to wait outside because it was so busy and then she forgot about us. I had to go back in and ask again and they honestly thought they had already seated us. Luckily, they had space for us and we were seated in the cramped dark basement. The service was friendly enough and pretty quick. Salad was nothing to write home about. The menu wasn't too impressive but I figured it was just a typical italian place with a good red sauce. We all ordered and the food came out pretty quick. The food was edible but nothing special. I wouldn't say that it was a memorable meal other than the company we were keeping at the time. Desserts are not worth it either so I suggest you just walk down to Mike's and call it a night.
(3)Terry W.
First time visit there on a busy Saturday evening but we had reservations and got in a little early. Pasta Pomodoro was excellent. The wine pour could be a tad more generous but overall a very satisfying meal. One caveat- they ran out of cannoli's. On a Saturday night. In the North End. Ok.
(4)Dennis V.
Great Italian food, and excellent service! We (2 couples) were walking around in the rain at 9pm on a Sunday night with a huge baby stroller looking for someplace to eat that a) could take us, and b) had room for a big stroller since this is the North End where everything is crowded. Lucia was past when the were scheduled to take their last seating, but with no hesitation they said no problem. They found us a table in the back (great for the baby) and took the folded up stroller from us and placed it in a protected area inside the back door where we could see it. Even though we closed down the restaurant and were the last to leave, our waitress never hurried us or made us feel rushed. She even said that it was no problem, that she would have probably been here anyway - which was a very reassuring thing to say as we were worried that we were keeping everyone late. Our waitress gave us great suggestions and was very attentive even as they were in the process of having a number of tables finishing up and leave. My bolognese sauce over fresh house-made egg noodles was great. My wife had the rolled veal with prosciutto and cheese and it was outstanding! My son had the gnocchi with pesto and daughter had fettuccine alfredo - both good. The wine list was interesting in it's variety and scope, and had very "approachable" priced wines. We had a $40 red from Sicily which was very good (actually, great for the price). I wouldn't hesitate to go here again and liked feeling very cared for in their "family" feeling restaurant.
(5)Courtney P.
Lackluster service, waiters who mispronounce bruschetta and stale bread. Hate to write a bad review for what seems like a family owned place, but this was a terrible experience. First time back in Boston in ten years and I wanted to take my boyfriend for great food in the north end...... You know, course after course of delicious treats. Well, we called it quits after the appetizers and went to Mikes for a pastry. We would have left sooner but it took a solid 20 minutes and Ricardo walking past 5 times before they got the hint that we weren't going to finish the awful excuse for Italian that was on our plates. I'm sure it's great if you've never had real Italian, but I've honestly had better meals at the Olive Garden.
(1)David H.
Friendly service and excellent authentic Italian food. The shrimp cacciatore was excellent and contained a large portion of shrimp. If you are wandering around the North End and can't decide where to stop I'd give this place a try.
(4)Patrick A.
A family of five from MN with three tired kids after a week in the cape eating fried seafood were looking for a good Italian dinner. The place recommended by a local had a 45 minute wait which was not going to work for us, we stopped at Lucia's and got right in and were not disappointed. The Veal w prosciutto, Parmesan and lemon was great, the gnocchi was solid and fettuccine Alfredo was good and not to creamy. The tortellini and broth was raved about by my 11 year old and my 8 year old scarfed down linguini and clams. Good service but they were a bit under staffed, I would hit it again. Good stuff.
(4)Katie M.
Well I'm glad I checked in and made a reservation because by the time we got our drinks, the line to get in Lucia's was down the street. The food was amazing. i had the vongole. Wonderful. The staff was very nice. I can't wait to go back again.
(4)Rick S.
Bottom Line - Atrocious (food, service, decor)! All dishes came out lukewarm and ingredients used were not fresh. I don't think anything we ordered was from scratch, it was like Sandra Lee (from "Semi-Homemade") was the one who taught the chefs here. I cannot recommend this restaurant under ANY circumstances; and if you decide to come here, don't say I didn't warn you. Came here for dinner on Thursday, 11 November 2010 with a coworker and a friend. We're not from Boston, so we went up and down the street looking at all the menus and decided to give Lucia Ristorante a try..... We ordered the following dishes: Caprese (fresh garden tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, drizzled with virgin olive oil, $9.95) - eh the mozzarella wasn't that fresh. The tomatoes were just from the store. I wouldn't order this again. Bruschetta Napoletana (grilled country bread, brushed with olive oil, topped with garden tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella, $8.50) - this dish missed the mark. The bread needed to be toasted more, or better yet pan fry it in oil. Mozz was low quality and basil was stingy with basil. I wanted to return this dish. Insalata del giardino (a medley of fresh seasonal greens, garden tomatoes, onions, olives and served with house dressing, $6.50) - my friend ordered it and liked it, but how hard is it to screw up salad? Gnocchi al Pesto (gnocchi tossed with a pesto sauce, made with fresh basil, pine nuts, olive oil and parmiggiano cheese, $15.75) - yuck. No flavor and texture was way off. Definitely not house made. Dish came out on the cold side of lukewarm. I wanted to return it. Tortellini Quattrocento Formaggi (tortillini in a rich cheese sauce of Romano, mozzarella, bel paese and parmiggiano cheese, $15.75) - I totally think this is the same exact tortellini found in the Costco frozen food section... It came out at room temperature. I totally wanted to call them out on using frozen tortellini. Melanzane alla Parmigiana (baked eggplant layered with mozzarella and Romano cheese in a light tomato sauce, $16.25) - this dish came out cold (the eggplant was cold, the cheese was hot). I didn't like it at all. Total for 3 of us was $79.20 + 10.00 for 2 beers + 6.00 for pellegrino + 6.66 tax + 15.00 tip = 116.86 total. Some quotes from our table: "This is the worst Italian food I've ever had." "I'm Chinese and I could make better Italian food." "I seriously need to detox tomorrow." "Let's go purge. I don't do bulimia, but this place asks for it." "New precedent: Next time don't order main dishes until we're satisfied with the quality of the appetizers... otherwise, let's GTFU and go somewhere else before it's too late." There are a lot of choices for Italian in this area. I recommend going somewhere else.
(1)Sabina C.
Service was nice and food was quick. Ambiance was nice and comfortable. However, the food was the worst I've had at the north end. Spaghetti and meatballs were terrible and that should be an easy food to mess up. The grilled chicken was really dry and it's side salad made no sense.
(2)Angela M.
Arrived at the restaurant on Friday Dec 26 at 4:30. We were seated right away at the front window, and was served water right away. That's where the customer service ended. We were never approached by anyone asking to take a drink order or even letting us know that they would be right with us. They were not busy, restaurant was less than half full and had 4 or 5 waiters working. The 2 hostesses were busy chatting and a waiter even approached them to chat and even looked right at us. We were then seated for 10 minutes. Knowing we had tickets for a show later and were watching the clock, I had checked the time again and realized we were seated more than 20 minutes without anyone approaching us to take any order. We decided to leave. Upon leaving we said goodbye to the hostesses and both asked us if we enjoyed our meal. ( SERIOUSLY) I had to tell the hostess that we were leaving because no one had approached us at all. The one older hostess followed us outside to ask us to come back and that she would make sure to take care of us. Sorry, to little to late! Being seated at the window we were only 3 feet from hostess and having both them and a waiter to look at us and never even acknowledge us was not worth staying or ever returning. If I could have left a minus 3 stars that is what I would have left for our rating. On a good note we went just down the street to another restaurant had amazing service and meal left a great tip and made our show on time. Thank you "Ricardo's"
(1)A V.
My friend and I were planning on going to another North End restaurant, however the line was insanely long and we didn't feel like waiting. We walked by this restaurant and took a look at the menu since the outside looked nice, with Christmas lighting and such. The menu was very extensive and we decided to give it a try. When we walked in we got a table upstairs right away. From what I saw of the first floor, it was dimly lit, but seemed nicely decorated. The upstairs wasn't as dark and also included some nice art work on the ceiling. They had a full bar, which is different from a lot of Italian restaurants in the area which only serve beer and wine. I had the lobster ravioli sauteed in shrimp, which was amazing. The sauce was very good and it was a decent sized dish. I was able to finish it without feeling painfully full. My friend ordered the Spezzatino all'Abbruzzese, which was chicken and veal sauteed in butter, white wine and served with pasta. He really enjoyed his dish as well. We split a bottle of White Zin which was a good wine, and for a cheap price. Our food came out extremely fast, however we felt a tab bit rushed during our meal. My friend finished before I did and they cleared his plate immediately. They also kept coming to our table to refill our wine glasses when they weren't even empty, which I'm not a fan of. Overall we received good service, it was just very quick.
(4)Samantha L.
After doing some research on a restaurant that serves desserts in North End, I decided to go with Lucia Ristorante, which is located on the quieter side of Hanover Street. Honestly, it was hard to find a restaurant (with guaranteed seating) that served desserts other than just cannoli's. In addition to iced water, we ordered Port's, hot tea, hot coffee, and a Tropical Sangria. I was surprised that they didn't have a variety of tea to choose from. They just had Lipton Tea. The hot coffee came with cream and sugar. The Tropical Sangria consisted of a blend of white wine, triple sec, coconut rum, absolute vodka, pineapple, cranberry, and orange juices. It was garnished with orange peels and strawberries. I was in for a sweet treat. For dessert, we shared two desserts - Torta di Nicciola Con Crema Inglesa and Tiramisu al Limoncello. The Torta di Nicciola Con Crema Inglesa consisted of a slice of amaretto cake with hazelnut bites dusted with powdered sugar and served in a cream anglais. We liked how the outside was crispy and had a burnt taste. The Tiramisu al Limoncello consisted of four espresso dipped lady fingers surrounded by a limoncello infused thick custard dusted with espresso powder. We felt that the tiramisu was too heavy for us to enjoy the entirety of the dessert.
(4)Kayla C.
Came for dinner last Sunday for the first time and was very pleased with the meal. Got a nice booth for two which I was pleased about because most NE restaurants stick you at a small table you can barely move or hear your own conversation. So off to a good start. Bread and water took awhile, which in my opinion should come soon after you seat, just a small suggestion. I ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca, which I believe was Veal on the menu but I asked for chicken which they were able to do. I got a side of penne in red sauce which was tasty. The chicken with the Mushrooms in the white wine sauce with prosciutto was absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back to try something else!
(4)Donna P.
Absolutely delish. Great service, wonderful food and the ambiance is so right for the food. Thanks to my Airbnb host for getting me to get out of his condo and walk Hanover street. The salad dressing on the house salad is ridiculously good. The veal is so tender delicious and lightly sauced. So good. I miss this in Tampa. Every Italian place, maybe except for Bella's, wY overdoes it. Lucia's knows what they are doing and they do it well. Brava!!
(5)John B.
First off, the cocktails... The tropical sangrias where outstanding. I've finally found my official cocktail for the summer of 2015. I would get a carafe to go if I could (or we were in New Orleans). The meal itself was tasty, but there was nothing memorable. It's 2 days after the fact and I'm scratching my head to remember what exactly we had for dinner. If I were to rate Lucia's on food alone, I'd probably have given it a 3.5. There was nothing wrong with it all. It was solid. There just wasn't an "Oh my god I have to go back and have that dish again" kind of dish. I've certainly had more flavourful experiences in the North End. The restaurant itself has a nice warm ambiance. The host and waitresses were spot on and made for an really enjoyable dining experience. The excellent attentive service pushed my score up to a 4 stars. Bottom line, It's a good place for an reasonably priced intimate evening of good Italian dining fare. I'm excited to add another entry to my stable of good North End eateries.
(4)alwyn v.
We had an impromptu birthday celebration in the North End and found this little gem of a restaurant. Our server Maria was wonderful and the food, too much for us to consume, was delicious. We felt like we'd been going there for years. We'll definitely go to Lucia again.
(4)Kristen H.
This place was decent, but way over-priced. We were tired of fights swarms of tourists that had descended on the North End at night. We had no idea it would be like that, having just been there in the afternoon a day or two before. We looked at menus, and tried to spot a place with some of the actual local community dining, but we got too tired to go deep enough into the neighborhood before we just caved and decided to try the next place. We ended up at Lucia, despite a bit of reservations. The owner, who was very nice, was at the door telling people to come in, not a good sign in Miami, and I figured the same would be true here. The server seemed newer, but we were patient. The bread came super late, like when we had already been eating for a while, ha! For an app, my husband got the mussels, but they were overcooked and shriveled up. He did really enjoy the sauce though. He learned the joys of sopping up tasty sauces with bread at this meal, and that's something. For an entree, my husband got the veal saltimbocca, which he said was just okay. I ordered the gluten-free braccioletine calabrese, which is served with penne. I usually hate penne, but I was too hungry to care. This particular penne wasn't bad. First, let me say that the sauce was zesty and very tasty. The chicken was grilled nicely and was tasty with the peppers, mushrooms, and onions. My husband thought my dish was pretty tasty too. However, the peppers were cut with little skill--way too clunky and big for the dish. It got in the way a great deal for me. There was a lot of meat on the plate, two split breasts I think. I could only eat one. When they packaged my dish, they didn't pack most of my sauce, so I was quite disappointed. I would've like to box it myself anyway, but for some reason, these restaurants like to insist on doing it for you. As far as ambiance, what could've been a nice, romantic spot was cave dark to the point of hurting our eyes. I really wish that restaurants would give a bit more attention to lighting. They even adjusted it a couple of times, but always lower :o! It was our most expensive meal, but we just didn't feel that it delivered to meet the cost. We don't at all mind paying for good food, but we both found this to be well beyond reasonable. It was pretty good, but I definitely wouldn't go back because I didn't find it worth the price.
(3)tammy k.
I made a reservation thru open table app for 730 on a Saturday night. We got there at 720. The hostess thought she may have been able to sit us immediately but then said give her ten minutes. While we waiting just outside the door I overheard her saying she was sitting people with reservations at their best tables so def make the reservation! We were sat ten minutes later right at 730. On to the food!! The Caesar salad was huge..could easily be split by two. Bread would have been better if warm but it was still good. I chose the lasagna and my husband said as soon as he saw my fork go through it like a hot knife though butter he knew it was going to be good and yes it was...by far the best lasagna I've ever had! Outstanding. He had veal parm and it was very good but if we find ourselves here again he would get the lasagna too. Didn't get dessert because really if you're on hanover you're going to mikes for some pasty after dinner!
(4)Richie S.
My fiancé and I came here for dinner last night to celebrate Valentine's Day and we both really enjoyed it. Our waitress was very sweet and made nice recommendations along with checking with the kitchen about a different pasta option for my fiancé. The chicken vegetable soup was to die for and so was the old school al la carte meatballs and bolongese sauce that we ordered as our appetizer. The chicken parm was very good and so was the shrimp scampi, however we both agree that we like both dishes better at Rosalina's Kitchen in Worcester Nevertheless we are looking forward to come here again sometime soon. Enjoy!!
(4)Lauren E.
The Good: - fair sized/quality/price of wines by the glass and bar fare - amazing out of the oven bread - ok mozzarella - the star was the peppercorn oil - fantastic vegetarian menu - excellent home stuffed ravioli - accepted day of reservations as late as 5pm for later that night; and held our table for 15 minutes whilst we hunted for parking! UNHEARD OF! The Meh: - it's a good date night ambiance because there's maybe 7-10 tables total; but the acoustics are odd... You can hear the dates going on to you immediate left and right on Fridays and Saturdays. So go later... And enjoy less white noise and no one listening in on you. - the staff was a little, awkwardly overly apologetic for slower service. It was Saturday, filled to the rafters, and it wasn't horrible... But they interrupted about 5 times to apologize. Totally silly. And after the 5th time - a little annoying. - the food is some of the better Italian I've had in the area; but it's a wee bit expensive for the quality of what you're eating. Still - it's fresh, good, pleases all your picky eaters, and is paired with fair wines. The ugly: - I love the coziness of this place; but it seriously looks like a good will for old Italian grandmother decor. When we walked in; I was a little worried about my friend's recommendation. (But no need - it's legit fun.) Overall: - Would I go back again: probably - Would I recommend to a friend: Yes! Especially if you have special diet eaters a Newport is sometimes not too diverse -especially later in the night. 8.8 out of 10... A little decor updating and 15% off would make this a home run!
(4)Margot D.
Three of us were in for an early dinner on Saturday evening (arrived around 4:30) and the food was good, but I am knocking off a star because the service was a bit slow. My friends started with the calamari which they said was great (I don't eat it) and while I server (female) said she would bring bread, I had to try and flag her down so that I could eat something while these guys were eating. She was out by the door talking to a hostess, and at one point I almost just got up to get her. Food was good: I had the veal and eggplant parm (I couldn't decide which one, so I decided to have both), one friend had veal and the other had something I just don't remember. Portions were good, food was nice, but there wasn't a huge sense of "service". Can't speak for dessert since we went to Mike's afterwards....
(3)Zack C.
The food gives this place 4 stars. The cocktails give this place 0 stars. As for the food, it was delicious and typical of most good North End restaurants. Only complaint was that portions were smaller than expected, but prices were not too bad. The cocktails were way too watered down for what we paid. We could taste water while first tasting them. Not what you'd expect when paying $12 for a drink. Beer selection was also pathetic, with only 5, mediocre options like Bud or Amstel Light. Come here for the food, but wine is the only alcohol that you should order!
(3)Jacqueline S.
Unfortunately, the drinks (berry martini and Hawaiian and regular margaritas) were watered down with very little discernible alcohol. The antipasto was reasonably good. The server was a bit too intrusive and became testy when we opted not to dine further. Take your chances if you like. But there are just too many other options in walking distance.
(3)KEVIN M.
I gave this restaurant 4 stars for the location,, competent staff, and quality of food.
(4)Paul R.
On a previous visit to my "home town" I had the opportunity to have a wonderful dinner @ Lucia's. While touring the North End with my wife I saw that they were open for lunch. We were quickly seated in a comfortable booth, and presented with a wonderful lunch menu. It took a while, as everything looked amazing. We ordered the tomatoes and mozzarella and fagioli soup. Fantastic describes both! Everyone says their mom or nanna made the best fagol soup and this offering was close to what I remembered growing up. Our entrees were the veal masala and veal Parm with eggplant. Substantial melt in your months portions were presented. Half way through lunch I said if it wasn't for the never ending winter I would consider moving back to Boston, just for the food! We cleaned our plates using our remaining bread. We left Lucia's fully satisfied. There are a lot of wonderful dining options in the NE but Lucia is close to the top of the food chain. We somehow had room for dessert and we bypassed the bakery lines on Hanover St. and went to Maria's for a cannoli. Don't stand in line go here.
(5)Caitlin M.
Unfortunately Lucia would have gotten 4 stars had they either sat us on time and not an hour late for our reservation OR handled it better when we brought it to the manager's attention. We had a reservation and ended up waiting an hour after they sat a group our size with a later reservation before us. Finally we were seated and were given menus. It took a long time to get water. We placed our orders and received our appetizers before our drinks, then we had to ask for bread as we saw it on the tables nearby. The food was excellent--artichoke hearts, house salad (friends raved about the dressing), shrimp scampi, lobster ravioli, among other things. When we got the check we asked to speak to the manager and a hostess was sent over instead. They offered us limoncello which we declined. It seemed like no one knew who was in charge over there. Finally we spoke with the manager who made some excuses and wasn't very accommodating. The food was good but I won't be back considering I've been treated better in other North End restaurants. It came to about $40 per person with a pair-shared app, entree, drink, tax, and tip.
(2)Nora R.
I had a beet arugula salad. The saying never judge a book by its cover applies to this place. The salad was not dressed. It was just a few beet slices and dry arugula with sprinkled feta cheese. Very very disappointing, I should've known by just walking in without waiting..
(1)Chrissy B.
Got to the restaurant and there was nobody there, got seated right away which was nice. We ordered our appetizers and food at the same time, it took about 10 minutes for the appetizers. The food on the other hand took over 45 minutes, again the place was empty. It was a nice restaurant, we sat right by the window which was nice. The food was not worth the wait or the price, I had the tortellini which had way to much garlic!! The bread was good and my Caprese was delicious. The staff were very nice but they seem to forget about you when other customers come in. We were very disappointed with the wait and food. We will definitely not be going back
(1)Evelyn T.
I am very sad to say that I was very disappointed in the service of Lucia to the point where I will not be returning. After having to ask for water and wine multiple times was shocking, but a salad someone in my party ordered was never brought over. I have been to many different places around the north end and was shocked for the price of the menu that they did not have fresh parmesan cheese or fresh ground pepper. We sadly had to ask the waiter for that as well and received a parmesan shaker that I frequently see in pizza places. There are many restaurants around the neighborhood in the same quality food with much better service. The food was great, but I due to the service two stars is all I can give.
(2)Marli E.
Delicious food! Tried the Carrozza appetizer and had the Spezzatino pasta as my entree. Think of the Carrozza as a fancy mozzarella stick but flat and much larger and tomato sauce on too as well lol.. We ordered one and it shared between 5 and it was great.. We weren't that hungry so it was suffice for us but I would've ordered 2 on a regular day. The Spezzatino pasta was delicious!! What I loved about this place was that the portions weren't overwhelming big (like something you would get at Cheesecake Factory) and that it actually tasted authentic (unlike Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden and all those chain restaurants). My boyfriend ordered one the specials of the night which was a breaded 19oz veal chop... The breaking wasn't too heavy, the meat was still moist and in the middle it had melted mozzarella cheese.. Yum!! (Pretty much it reminded me of a milanesa that you would have at a Latin America lol) The service was great and prompt, our meal did not take long at all. I would definitely go back. I would recommend to take a jacket especially if you sit in the downstairs because it gets pretty cold.
(5)Tammy D.
Stopped by on a whim with a co-worker during a business trip. They were crowded but able to quickly seat us. Food and drinks were very good. I had pasta alla Norma. The waiter was helpful and friendly. I would definitely return next time I visit Boston.
(4)James I.
This place has become a tradition for our families. We come to Boston every summer and Lucia is a must every year. Even all of the kids love it...there is something for everyone. Great food, atmosphere and service. What else could you need? Oh and be sure to try the red and white sangrias....absolutely fantastic
(5)Steven C.
Stopped in with some work peeps from out of town. It was on the later side but the best places in the north end are tough to get a spot at. We chose Lucia based on availability. Good service, we were greeted right away and our waiter was attentive and knew the menu. We started with some apps, bruchetta, italian sausage and caprese. I bucked the trend and ordered a cup of fagioli. Solid soup with a yummy tomato broth. For main course, I went with one of the specials - stuffed veal chop. I was preparing myself for a lucious piece of meat that was filled with cheese, prosciutto and spinach. When it arrived, it looked great - lightly breaded and I went all in for that first bite. Ugh, overcooked. OK, maybe that was just the outer rim of planet veal chop, let's go for another try... Ugh, dry, overcooked, bummer. It had great potential but fell down in the execution. Rest of my midwest collegues reported good results.
(3)Michelle K.
Great option for authentic Italian dining in the north end! Good service, friendly staff, and very flavorful food. The veal and eggplant parm are everything you could want from this classic dish. The restaurant specializes in veal dishes so you may want to consider this when ordering - you can't go wrong. Overall, a great place! I would return and recommend to others.
(4)Fernanda P.
Overpriced for the quality of food they serve. We went with friends and did the family style where we share what we order. Bruschetta was good, but expensive for 3 pieces. Gnocchi was too plain. Again, pricey for the taste. The chitarra al tartufo was very tasty. I would say it was the only dish I liked. Saltimboca was tasty but it was drowning in oil. We also ordered some artichokes as an app that are not in the menu. Lobster ravioli had no sauce. We had to wait from 10 to 15 min to be seated and it was super loud. This is a place in definitely not coming back.
(2)Michael T.
I'm usually a big fan of Lucia... My past experience wasn't so great. We had a reservation for 8pm. After leaving another restaurant where we had a drink, and arriving on-time, we were told they had a long wait. This was surprising to hear because we had a reservation. I guess this doesn't make much of a difference. After waiting 30 minutes, we were seated at a table connected to others tables with people... Is this how a restaurant treats a customer who makes a reservation? After politely asking for a new table, we were accommodated. Our server was forgetful. After asking for our drink order, she forget my drink. After asking for the type of pasta we wanted, she provided the wrong pasta. To be honest... The food was good and so were the guys valeting cars, but if you are looking for a great overall experience you may want to choose one of the many other restaurants in the North End.
(3)Nick ..
Really great classic North End Italian restaurant. I had a tasty red wine (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) and ordered the COSTOLETTA D'AGNELLO (Lamb rack, center cut, simply grilled, served with Broccoli Rapi) entree. It was amazing.
(4)Natalie V.
Another amazing place we tried in Boston was Lucia's. The manager was incredibly friendly as well as our waiter who, when he found out we were from Chicago, gave us his friend's name/number to take care of us at his friend's restaurant here in Chicago. They had the best red gravy we have ever had outside of our family! Four cheese gnocchi - AMAZING! The veal chop was breaded, on a bone, and huuuuge - incredibly tasty and our favorite of the night. Their mussels were tender and not fishy tasting at all. Love this place.
(5)Lois M.
We had a delightful lunch with an excellent waiter and attentive manager (Richard). The food was served promptly and was great Italian fare. We would go back! Roger and Lois
(5)Victoria M.
After trying to get into two other restaurants on a Saturday night, we came upon lucia's. we were sat immediately upstairs where there was an extremely rowdy bachelorette party. I hate being "those annoying guests" but the noise was unbearable so after being sat, we asked the hostess if we could move downstairs. She was so nice and apologetic and accommodated us almost immediately! We moved downstairs and our waiter hector greeted us right away. He told us all the specials and was extra polite. Our food came out very quick. My boyfriend had the chicken and eggplant parm, which was great. I had the linguini and clams, it was good but I wish the sauce didn't have such a strong wine taste. Overall the food was pretty good but the staff was awesome. Much appreciated, thank you!
(4)Chad P.
Quintessential Italian restaurant with family atmosphere and outstanding food. I had the veal parm which was huge and my wife had the gnocchi. We went there for lunch while touring the Freedom Trail and it was quick and delicious.
(5)J C.
Myself and 3 others had reservations for 6:30 this past Saturday night. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated and were promptly brought water. That was the only time anyone came over to our table. We were sat on the top floor and the place was FULL. Every table was taken and it seemed like there were two male servers and one female taking care of the entire dining room. I work in the service industry myself, and I realize that it can take a little time to get to a table. However, when a table got up, was cleaned, and another table was sat---AND a waiter went over to them to take drink orders, that is when my patience reached its breaking point. After a full 30 minutes of waiting at a table with no one approaching us to even say "We will be right with you", we left. I told the hostess the reason we were leaving and she didn't seem to understand me. She just responded with a "Sorry." and I'm sure she just went to re-seat the table. I will never go back to eat here again. If you want to receive good service on your night out in the North End, I recommend going elsewhere.
(1)Bill ..
Horribly mismanaged. Made reservations months in advance and even confirmed them three times...including earlier the same day. Showed up on time and there were no less than 12 tables to be seated in front of us. They obviously overbooked to get as many customers as possible instead of logically looking at their booking capacity. If only there was some kind of penalty for these deceptive tactics.
(1)Brittany R.
This little place hit the spot on a freezing day. I ordered their soup of the day, veal meat balls and a taramiso. The taramiso was amazing! The meatballs were done perfectly and the place was like sitting in someone's living room. The hospitality was so friendly, I felt so welcomed. Definitely felt like I got a home cooked meal here.
(5)Courtney P.
Lucia's is great! We needed a place to go on a Friday with 8 people! We were able to make a reservation on Wednesday afternoon. At the last minute we got a 9th person. When we got to Lucia's the hostess and wait staff was quick to move a little divider and add a table and seat for our extra guest. The food was really good. Everyone enjoyed their meals from pasta to salads! Definitely recommend!
(4)Kimeee H.
Service and food were wonderful. Calamari app was tender and tasty. All give off or entrees were delicious (Fettuccini Alfredo, quattro formaggio, veal and chicken saltimbocca, and one other I forget the name of). Even splurged for valet because we were almost late for our reservation. Will definitely visit again.
(5)Jaclyn S.
This restaurant gives a bad impression of the North End. The food was semi-okay, the gnocchi I had was hard ($20), the seafood dish ($30) my friend ordered had a ton of tiny, hard shell pieces in it that he kept biting down on. The service was probably the worst I've had in the North End - the waiter was miserable and wasn't prepared for us. The tables aren't set up properly because they keep taking place settings from other tables. I had to ask for a water glass, knife, napkin, fork separately. The bread was stale. I wouldn't return here or recommend it. There are too many other places to enjoy a $20-25 meal (before drinks).
(1)Rose C.
New year's eve dinner. Seated fast (ok, we made an early reservation) in a comfy booth near a window. I ordered linguine and shrimp. The shrimp were huge, perfectly cooked - same for pasta. My friend had lobster ravioli and there were chunks of lobster in the sauce. Bottle of nice red wine. Everything was delish. Service was lovely. Highly recommend.
(5)Dipak S.
Food - Had a bottle of wine. Alfredo pasta and the egg plant parmigian. The egg plant was excellent. Service - Hector was great and made the right suggestions for us. Ambience - A nice cute place in North end. Cost - $15 per pax on sharing basis.
(4)Luciano T.
I just moved to Boston and I tried Lucia's with a local friend. Overall:great service ,great food,great environment. I will definitely recommend it to all my friends.
(5)Bogdan M.
Had a business meeting there; great food, great service and great atmosphere. Love this place and I would recommend it to everybody.
(5)Ignacio B.
I went with my grilfriend and a friend, I ate pasta with chicken, my grilfriend lobster ravioli and my friend gnocci. The three disses were incredible. The place is the best value I've tried in the north end.
(4)Michelle G.
Absolutely delicious. Veal Parmesan with eggplant was very good and the chicken prosciutto with artichokes in lemon sauce was fabulous. The sun fried tomatoes added sweetness to it. Service was quick and everyone was completely sweet and friendly :) Enjoyed it here thoroughly.
(4)Rob P.
Basic, nothing on the menu that stood out. With so many Italian restaurants in the north end, all tasting fairly similar, bread can make the difference. Lucia managed to fail the bread category with cold boring bread. Side of meatballs? 2 small tasteless meatballs for $7. Overall, meal was basic.
(3)Aclaire H.
While every Italian place was crowded that night , this restaurant had no wait. I had a delicious chicken Marsala that was to die for.
(4)Phil O.
The prices are reasonable, but don't be confused into thinking this place is Lucca. The food is salty and is not very impressive. If you have one place to go to in the North End, try somewhere else.
(3)Carole S.
Excellent lunch at Lucia Ristorante today after walking the Freedom Trail. We split caprese salad and calamari. Both were very good. Had lemon sorbet for dessert. I highly recommend this cute restaurant for both the food and the service.
(5)Kim D.
My eyes glazed over analyzing the reviews for North End Italuan restaurants. We decided to find a place that had a decent crowd, a menu we liked and wasn't open air (chilly night). At the end of our options we found Lucia. Reviews revealed poor service but we had the opposite experience with Ricardo. He was friendly and interacted easily with us. Food was very good and plentiful. Loved the pesto, fresh bread, cheese tortellini and garden salad. Glad we found it. And it was was warm inside. :)
(4)Ryan B.
A family favorite for years that is family owned an operated. The gnocchi is to die for especially when paired with a pesto. It has unfortunately gone a little down hill of late but i'm really hoping for a bounce back.
(4)Carolyn L.
A group of us went to Lucia thanks to its availability on Open Table when we were visiting the North End a couple of weeks ago. I recall having gone there once when I was in college and having a great time. This instance was no different. The wait staff was very pleasant, if only a bit slow. But it was a Saturday night and it was packed, so that definitely accounts for any delays. All of the food was great. We ordered bruschetta which was yummy, but missing tomatoes! It was actually more like garlic bread. We were a little surprised by that. Moving on to the main dishes, though, I shared the Marco Polo dish (A seafood delight, made with shrimps, clams, mussels, filet of sole, calamari and sea scallops in a light marinara sauce and served over a bed of linguine) with my friend. They nicely put it in two different bowls so we didn't have to get all messy divying it up. The seafood tasted GREAT and the sauce was light and flavorful. There was soooo much seafood in it! I heard mmmmms of delight from the other members of the table. I also snagged a bite of my friend's eggplant parmesan. Equally delicious. We all ordered wine by the glass because we couldn't decide on just one. They had a very nice selection, adequately priced. It was a very pleasant Italian evening in the North End!
(4)Jenna H.
Had a wonderful meal at Luica Ristorante. It is right around the corner from my apartment and this summer was the first time I have tried it. My grandmother was in town and wanted to take my husband and I out for a nice meal. I wanted to stay close to home and after checking out the menu decided on Lucia. Service throughout the meal was great, and the food was delish. I had the chicken marsala and it was hands down the best I have had in the north end. Cooked perfectly with abundant flavor. Upon leaving the restaurant my grandmother had an unfortunate fall out of the front door way - there is one step down upon leaving the restaurant and she missed it. All of the staff from the hostess to the valet driver who is always out there jumped into action to help us. I am grateful to them for this but think that a large sign to reflect the step would be helpful for others in the future. I am looking forward to coming back here in the future for meals. Just remember to watch your step :)
(4)Rachel K.
I have been here three times now. Two times with my boyfriend and one time this week with a group of coworkers. Every time, every person, has been highly impressed with this place. My favorite is always the Pollo Del Saggittario...mmmmmm! They have a great wine selection here and it isn't overly pricey. The price point here is great. Our server was also working the downstairs bar, and he was very timely, friendly, and efficient. He was also helpful with recommendations. This place isn't overly crowded or stuffed like many in the North End, and is easy to make a reservation. Definitely one of my favorite places in the North End.
(5)Andreas T.
Have been coming here for years. I am never tired of their food -- great tasting food. The fried calamari is excellent, and so are the mussels. Whether you have the gnocchi (that I had today) or the veal Marsala you will not be disappointed. I am not a wine drinker, but I am told that they have a good selection.
(5)Dave Z.
Lucia's is easily my favorite Italian restaurant, not only in the North End, but anywhere. Everything I've had there has been exceptional, with my favorite dish vitello carrozzella. Lasagna, Sogliola Margherita, Gamberi Cacciatore, and their different forms of parmigianas are all excellent also. I also always get a side order of their broccoli, which is cooked so perfectly with olive oil and garlic that even George H. W. Bush would like it! Two of the many things that makes Lucia's so exceptional is the olive oil they use, and that they have the best tomato sauce that I've had anywhere. A few years back I was working near South Station, and I spent the summer having lunches at different restaurants in the North End to see if I could find one better than Lucia's. Every restaurant I went to was very good (does the North End have an Italian restaurant that's not good??) but none matched Lucia's, and over the years I've brought friends there who previously had their own favorites in the North End, and who came away making Lucia's one of their regulars. The main dining area is somewhat cramped and a bit noisy (the downstairs dining is better in that regard), and the waitstaff is genuinely good although at times brusque, but the food is absolutely terrific, and for the money, a bargain.
(5)Karisa D.
Ohh Lucia, where do I begin: I've never been anywhere in the North End and been seated immediately until Lucia. My friends and I walked in without a reservation and were quickly seated. There's a good variety on the menu. I ordered the Linguine con Cozze which is their mussel dish. I wasn't expecting a lot of mussels but I was pleasantly surprised when my dish arrived piled high with fresh mussels. If you're a seafood lover, highly recommend this dish. The prices are a bit higher than what I am used to, but still not bad for the North End. Overall, I had a great experience. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Danielle B.
Had the Lobster Ravioli and it was alright. There are definitely many better restaurants in North End to spend your money at. The service was good, ravioli tasted like it came from a freezer.
(2)Lisa M.
Sigh. Wanted to love this place but it was not worth the price... The atmosphere and service were top-notch. No complaints there whatsoever. But the food was only okay and "okay" is just NOT okay for these prices. My husband and I ordered 1 app, 2 sodas, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts and the bill without tip came to nearly $90. That's not surprising for Boston, but if you're savvy enough to be reading yelp reviews you'll be able to find better food for that price. If you're just looking for classic Italian that's "pretty good" this is your place... I just don't want to pay $90 for pretty standard fare. To explain - - The caprese salad was disappointing. The tomatoes and mozzarella were very thick-sliced, and the tomatoes were not very ripe ... somewhat understandable in May but not for $10+. There was no balsamic vinegar whatsoever - just olive oil - and the basil was tiny shreds... that might be okay if you had AMAZING tomatoes but in this case it was not. I could have made this at home with supermarket tomatoes and mozzarella, olive oil, and 3 basil leaves. Sad. - The veal parmigiana was only okay. Nothing amazing. A little overdone and tough. - The best thing we had was the Marco Polo. Of course, it was also a $27 entree. Seafood with linguini in a white wine sauce. The sauce was great and a perfect compliment to the seafood. Some of the seafood was overcooked - notably the scallops and the calamari. The shrimp was excellent. Some of the noodles were tough at the end, as if they'd been cooked earlier and had ended up partially dried out :( - My husband's Tiramisu was excellent in flavor and texture, although presentation in a little glass bowl was lacking. The lemon added a nice twist which was surprising to me, because I wouldn't have thought lemon could work with a coffee-flavored dessert. Bonus points there. Wish the presentation had been better. - My "panna cotta" looked and seemed to actually be flan, and again the presentation was lacking. It tasted good, but I was expecting panna cotta in a cup with a thick fancy caramel sauce, and this was literally just flan like you'd get anywhere, on a plate. I wish I could give 2.5 stars. The description for 2 is "Meh, I've experienced better" and that's what I'd say, but if the price were more reasonable I'd give 3 stars for sure.
(2)Sheila B.
Just had my new years dinner here all in all the food was good for the price, well a little $. I can't complain in new years eve we had a reservation for 4 good calamari, buffalo mozzarella was ok, for appetizer, the pasta dishes need more umps hence the 3 stars, but I would go back. My take on the entrees ( just pasta) was not wow but not that bad either, hence the three stars... The gnocchi with the red sauce and or pesto were both good. The penne was not home made and a little to al dents, big portions =left overs and full bellies... I thought our server was great and we did really enjoy the experience.
(3)D D.
We went on Christmas eve- after Mass at Holy Cross. Waitress was very nice. The ambience was nice- warm cozy. A lot of families doing the same thing. The marinara sauce was perfect. Very enjoyable experience. Would go back w/out kids. Menu was limited and did not have pizza...one of my kids favorite items..surprise.
(3)Mary T.
I made my list, I checked it twice, but stupidly I didn't factor long waits into the equation. Gnawing my hand off would have been the only way I would've been able to handle the waits at my top two North End choices and that would've made eating dinner a little challenging. Plan B sent me scouring NE for another dining option. Happening upon Lucia, a quick check of the Yelp app told me that it had a respectable 3.5 star average; it sounded fine, but frankly I walked away disappointed. They were able to seat me immediately, which gave me pause; with virtually every restaurant in the North End having some wait, why was this place so empty? I was seated in the basement dining area, if you have a choice ask to be seated upstairs. The downstairs area is fine, but with low ceilings and brick walls it had terrible acoustics. That aside, service was very friendly and attentive. I started with a glass of pinot grigio and an order of the Bruschetta Napoletana, a C+ effort. Take note, there are two bruschettas on the menu and one is basically a cheesy garlic bread. The fresh mozzarella was lovely - light and airy; but the tomatoes weren't very good. I don't think they were fully ripened; they definitely lacked that sweetness and flavor I expect. Additionally, the bread was wasn't toasted or grilled either, which left it on the chewier side and made the dish very messy. But what really killed the dish was that the "brush" of olive oil was more like a slathering, I was on the verge of asking for a replacement napkin by the time I was finished, my hands felt like an oil slick. For my entree I wavered between the linguine with clams (vongole) and the lobster ravioli special. Going against my better judgment, I went with the special. My server was kind enough to tweak the dish for me, instead of the straight cream sauce it came with, they added a bit of marinara to lighten it up. The dish was just ok, a bit one note frankly. At $24 I expect a choice of soup or salad, maybe an offer of freshly grated cheese or ground pepper and some better plating. The presentation was sloppy, there was sauce sloshed all over the plate, nearly running off the side; a proper pasta bowl would've helped. At this price point, the food just did not live up to my expectations. Next time I'm in Boston and pass this place, I'll keep on walking.
(3)Sam G.
Liked this place a lot. made a reservation the night before, so no wait for our table. Nice variety of food - a good selections of pastas, chicken dishes, and, my favorite, veal dishes. They also had a pretty good selection of wines, which were fairly priced (although if you want a really great priced bottled of wine for dinner, go to Giacamo's). My meal was very good, but a bit pricey for the meal. it was a veal dish stuff with mozzarella and prosciutto topped with mushrooms. It also had a side of pasta. The pasta was alright, but the dish itself was fantastic. Really enjoyed the tenderness of the meat and the juiciness of the mushrooms. The white wine sauce was just right - not too over powering or lemony. The price is about the same as you would pay at any of the other restaurants in the North End, so not bad. Would definitely suggest trying the place, and maybe even worth a second try. Will update after I go again :)
(4)Kathi L.
We ate here a week ago, the food was superb as well as the service. Lucia's adds class to the North End.
(5)Stephen P.
While we waited for a table we went downstairs for a drink. When our table was ready we asked the maitre d if we should settle our bar tab or if it would transfer to our table check. He asked that we settle before sitting down so we put the money on the bar and waited for change. Three minutes passed and the maitre d came by and told us to settle up quickly and move to the table because he couldn't hold it. I certainly understand that they don't want to keep tables open but his way of telling us to hurry up was rude and unprofessional. Tell the bartender not the customer. While seated we also heard him chew out a server for not turning a table over quickly enough. The bread before the entrée was below average for Italian restaurants and there was a fruit fly that kept circling us that ended up in my glass of wine. We ordered and 5 minutes later the food came out (too quick to me). I had the eggplant with mozzarella. It was the most disappointing plate of food that I can remember. The eggplant was rubbery and lukewarm/cold. Warming it up would not of saved it so I didn't bother asking. I had a few bites but ended up just eating the small portion of pasta that came along with it. Rarely do I leave food on my plate - I'm a card carrying member of the clean plate club. This was an epic failure. My girlfriend had the lasagna that turned out to be basically just a block of bland meat with hardly any pasta. She ate about 1/4 of it. We should have looked at the reviews before going here. There are a dozen restaurants in the area with higher ratings. Save your money and look elsewhere. The only positive was the bartender was nice.
(1)Melanie C.
Cute little place, and one of the lower-priced restaurants for the North End. The food was fine, but nothing special. There are better options in the North End, you might just have to shell out a little more cashola.
(3)Jessica G.
Delicious!! I went here a few weeks ago... and it was one of the best dinners I've had in the North End. I'm not eating dairy b/c I gave it up for lent, and the chicken parm without the cheese was still amazing! We had a table in the corner... our waitress was super nice and attentive. We were about 20 minutes early for our reservation and they sat us immediately. Prices were reasonable as well. Two thumbs up!
(5)Nick B.
During a recent trip to Boston we decided we had to have dinner somewhere in the North End, and walking down Hanover Street nothing really grabbed us until we got to Lucia, so in we went. It was busy, but not packed, and we weren't in the mood to wait, so that was fine. Our server, Maureen, was very friendly and knowledgeable, and we wound up having a great conversation with her father who happened to be in for dinner and sitting beside us that kept us there well into the evening - but that's not really what reviews are about... The food - the food was excellent - chicken parm for my wife, and I had Calabrese veal - it was great, a nice flavourful sauce, great portion size, nice and tender, overall just a great experience. We didn't wind up having dessert because we were so full, but it was a great meal overall.
(4)Julie N.
My parents were in town and we were trying to eat at Nicco but they wanted to put us in the basement to eat. You don't put my parents in the basement. We checked the menu at Lucia and gave it a go. They went to seat us in the upstairs area but when we asked to be seated in the main dining area, they happily obliged. We sat next to the window on a glorious day and it got stuffy. We asked them to open our window, and again, they happily obliged. Tip: Have them open your window. It made a HUGE difference in the dining experience. Service: Wonderful. Food: Really excellent. The lobster ravioli special wasn't all that special but the eggplant parm, chicken parm, and veal marcela were literally lick your plate clean good. Especially the eggplant. Another tip: skip the bruchetta. Though it's very fresh, they serve it on their regular italian bread so it's soggy the second it arrives. Price: Not all that bad! All in all - I would definitely come back here.
(4)Paul M.
The food was the best iv had in the north end
(5)Alan J.
We stopped here after a long day of Christmas shopping. The smell when we arrived was not pleasing to me, but I don't care for a huge plate of fresh squid and that had obviously just been served because after a few minutes the smell passed. I ordered the Gnocchi and my mom ordered the Lasagna. My Gnocchi was tough and thick and I could tell it would hit my stomach like a rock, so I sent it back for a slice of the lasagna that looked a lot better. I'm sure glad I did, because it was delicious.
(3)Raj S.
Super expensive! Lucia Ristorante is located towards the end of Hanover St. and wasn't as crowded, or as loud as the other restaurants we passed by. A friend and I started with a glass each of Chianti as neither wanted to get drunk on a weeknight. We ordered a delectable shrimp appetizer made in a sauce that went well with the bread. Marco polo and pesto gnocchi were our entrees, along with 2 more glasses of Chianti! Ha ha, I know...weeknight shmeeknight! My marco polo had more than enough seafood and was delicious, as was my friend's gnocchi. We decided to head elsewhere for dessert, and our bill was $125 with tips, which is a bit steep compared to other equally good restaurants in the area.
(4)Anna R.
-Watery, bland sauces and food -Extremely noisy and crowded -Slow, unfriendly service Considering all the amazing North End restaurants, I'm amazed they're still open.
(1)G M.
Terrible experience. Waitress spilled water 3 different times on 3 separate people, no apology, & she was rude! did not even bring over new napkins (brought a few paper ones from the bar for me to wipe it up myself). had to ask for new napkins 2 separate times. At this point I'm so annoyed. Ordered some wine & apps. our appetizer plate came out with a dead fly on it. DO NOT eat here. So many nicer, cleaner spots in the north end. Went to Gennaro's instead. Beautiful restaurant, great food, really polite waitstaff.
(1)Steph F.
Have been here twice, and enjoyed my meal (and the part of the restaurant where we were seated) the first time. My experience the second time wasn't as good. So, perhaps it's a mixed bag. Overall, solid Italian eats, but there are definitely places that I like better in the North End. One pro is that there is a reasonable amount of space in here, compared to other restaurants that I find to be more delicious but more cozy/cramped.
(3)Heath M.
If you want a foodie-heaven or tourist trap, don't come here. If you just want a good homestyle italian meal consisting of a meat, some pasta, or whatever, this is your place. Having been at the places where people wait in line just to say they've been somewhere, I'll take an immediate sit at Lucia any day. Why? Because those restaurants you're waiting in line for aren't that great and they cost a bit more. Lucia really is the difference between the old North End vs. the North End that we now know to be the tourist destination. Lucia is just your classic southern-Italian pasta place with a little bit of dress up. It's more Godfather than Eat, Pray, Love. Is it perfect? No. But I'm not sure I'd want it to be. I like the murals, the taped up booths and unpretentious vibe. I just want some wine, decent piece of veal, some pasta and I want to leave full, I come here. My nonna splits her time between Dallas and Ft. Lauderdale these days, so sometimes I can't wait for a good homestyle meal unless I make it myself. If I don't, then Lucia is on my list of possibilities.
(4)Nadine F.
This is a cute restaurant, but unfortunately the atmosphere is far better than the food. My friends and I tried several dishes. The penne bolognese lacked any flavor until I covered it in red pepper flakes. The calamari pasta was OK. The steak was probably the best of the three dishes. The waiter wasn't very attentive, and he got really angry and sarcastic and rolled his eyes when we asked for water to drink, even though we were still looking over the menu to see what kind of wine would complement our meal. The wine selection was good, and that was the only really enjoyable part of the meal. I won't be back.
(2)Jes S.
I came here on a Wednesday for a quick dinner with my husband. The host and our waiter were quite attentive and nice, however the food was rather bland. I order the pesto gnocchi, the pesto tasted powdery and blasé and the gnocchi was rather flavorless. My husband order the chicken parm and found it quite boring. Overall I really wanted to like this place but it just fell short. If you are looking for a quick great dinner in the north end I would suggest you look elsewhere.
(2)Thy L.
Not bad. Not good. Food is mediocre, but prices are way above average. I only came here because Urban Spoon sent me here when I decided I didn't want to wait in line for Giacomo's. If I knew it was so expensive I would've walked a little farther to go to Limoncello's and get better dishes. My chicken eggplant parm wasn't very good. My chicken was really thinly cut before it was breaded. It didn't taste tender at and was actually a little rubbery. Waitress was pretty nice and restaurant is big, so i doubt there'll ever be a wait.
(3)Emma T.
I am sad to have to give this place only two stars, but sadly they've changed and it's not for the better. Back in 2007/2008 this place was the only place in the North End I would eat at. It was absolutely fantastic! The ambiance was great, excellent service, amazing food..it was just awesome. I've watched it slowly loose it's charm over the years, but after visiting it again last night it officially lost it. The service was awful! Our waiter looked like a George Burns wannabe, had dirty finger/nails (gross when they're serving you food) and just wasn't good. We ordered salads and then our meals and she brought out our salads and then our meals two minutes later. Either bring them out together or wait at least 10 minutes..seriously. By the time we ate our meals they were luke warm. Very disappointing. Not to mention the table behind us had two girls playing some version of patty cake with each other kicking our booth..and they were teenagers mind you. Just weird and not an enjoyable experience.The only reason I give it two stars is because the woman at the front who seated us was just the sweetest. But not enough of a reason to go back ;/
(2)Robert R.
I went to Lucia on a Saturday night for a dinner out with friends and family. We were 4 adults and 2 kids (9 and 3). We were sat right away by a very friendly and accommodating hostess. The wait staff was quick, efficient, and extremely helpful. The menu was great, although I did eat a veal special they were offering. The wine list was also very good. All of our meals were OUTSTANDING. Cooked perfectly and flavored divinely. I'd like to especially point out how great they were with our children. The staff made them feel like welcome members of our dinner party and were accomodating to their picky food tastes. All in all a great night!
(4)Peter S.
Seafood Fradiavolo - A f#$&^ingMAZING. If you're in the mood for spice, seafood and red sauce - look no further. You will love it. $42. Also try the white sangria - great summer drink.
(5)Shannon W.
We came here with a party of five and the place did not disappoint. We all raved about our meals (Gnocchi's and Veal) and the Sangria was awesome. We liked the atmosphere and our service was excellent. We cam during the Italian Festival (St Anthonys) and we will be back!
(4)Lindsey W.
WOW surprised this place has any good reviews. The only thing nice about this place were the murals on the wall and the atmosphere. The food wasn't the worst I've ever had...but it was pretty lack luster. Actually, it was pretty bad. I honestly could have just gotten a box of pasta and had a better meal. The service was so poor. We felt like our server hated us! We were served bread without olive oil...which made no sense to me. But the worst part of the whole thing (besides the bathroom..I'll get to that) was the server asked "Would you like parmesan cheese" when we said yes I expect the STANDARD fresh parmesan cheese, I mean this is an Italian restaurant no??? She jus smacked down a parmesan shaker and walked away. HOW can this place be considered actual Italian food without the staples? The bathroom was a disaster area, totally disgusting, something that should never be seen in a "high-end" restaurant.
(1)Melissa W.
So, I went to Lucia's with a friend this past weekend. This restaurant was the ONLY one in the North End that didn't have an hour long wait during dinner time on a Saturday night - that alone should have made a strong enough statement about the restaurant. But no, we proceeded into Lucia's. We were seated promptly enough, waiting a mere 10-15 minutes. The hostess seated us (party of 2) downstairs in a corner table. On the first trip over to our table, our waiter asked us, without preamble, if we were ready to order. He did not offer us drinks, appetizers, specials, or even at minimum, water. After telling him we needed a few more minutes, he simply walked away without a word. We ordered the calamari appetizer. We thought that, because it arrived within 10 minutes, our entrees would be just as prompt. We were wrong. More than one hour had passed after the arrival of our appetizers and we were still awaiting our entrees. During our waiting time, 2 tables next to us both finished ordering and eating their appetizer, entrees and dessert. The waiter practically threw the check to us across and over the heads of three other customers, saying "Here." What was also very amusing was the amount of additional tip the waiter thought he deserved. We, like many other Lucia customers on yelp, saw that the waiter decided to give himself an additional $10.00 of tip, adding a one to our number. If you have bad service here, pay with cash. When we called back 2 days later, the manager hung up on us. Perhaps this was one of those rare exceptions to excellent service, but it seems that with as many recurring comments of the same variation of mistreatment, it sadly looks like a common theme. This is was the worst 2.5 hour long meal I've ever had. The one star is for their bread.
(1)Misha T.
3 stars is right. My girlfriends pesto gnocchi was good but our bruschetta was indeed soggy as others have noted. I will say though that the tomatos that came on it were exceptionally good but the bread would just break on the way to my mouth and at that point who cares. my mussels were much too salty as well. You know what, i'm changing it to two stars, the more i think about it the more it sucked. especially for the price.
(2)Ross D.
Brought my wife here on a Friday night for dinner. We got right in with no waiting, our waitress was fantastic and the bright spot in our frankly ho-hum dining experience. Put simply: the food was nothing special. If this restaurant was in the burbs I would probably give it four stars. But in the north end, they are simply below average.
(3)Cherie C.
While walking the Freedom Trail with an out-of-town friend, we happened upon All Saints' Alley while Jim, the proprietor, was there. As a lifelong North End resident, he recommended Lucia. We enjoyed our meal. The chicken cacciatore came with plenty of peppers and onions and not too much sauce. The chicken was fresh and tender. The gnocchi were also good, served in a light tomato sauce. Portions were pretty big, so we had plenty for lunch the next day. Service was friendly and attentive without being overwhelming. All in all, a nice experience.
(3)Andrew K.
Never again - Avoid Lucia at all costs. The management has no idea how to properly run a restaurant and treated us like dirt, I have never been so frustrated in a restaurant in my life. we showed up right on time for our 7:30 reservation and found a large crowd gathered outside, we should have taken this as a red flag and turned around that moment. After checking in with the hostess she said the wait would be only about 20 mins, so we thought no problem and waited patiently.... 30mins, 45 mins, finally an hour went by and nothing. The crowd was getting larger and frustrated. The owner was flat out lying about wait times and totally overwhelmed as he was letting people in completely out of order, based on how aggressive you were, which just made the situation worse. After an hour and a half we were finally seated at 9pm, with only a poor attempt to explain that they were backed up.. really? how do you screw up reservations that badly!!! Never again.
(1)ZZZZ T.
Fairly mundane Italian fare in a neighborhood teeming with good Italian food. I recently went there with a large group (delinquents, all), and the restaurant was fairly accommodating of the large group and its ensuing antics. The service was attentive and friendly, with drinks and food brought out quickly. That night, the restaurant was an eclectic mix of older folks, young couples with their high-chaired eating children and our large group. Everyone was having fun, although I think more because they've got a full bar and a moderately priced, if fairly unexciting wine list. As for the food, the antipasti was pretty good, although the veal the waitress steered me to (her favorite dish!) was bland, overcooked and underwhelming. There are definitely better dining options within a few blocks. The food isn't bad per se - it's just that when you eat there, you know that you've walked/driven by better comparably priced places down the block.
(2)Chris G.
Great time. Got right in on a Friday night. Gnocchi al Pesto was terrific. Superb service.
(4)Ang L.
Probably my least favorite experience in the north end so far. The sauces lacked flavor and on a slow night the service wasn't sharp, a bit slow. The waitress even admitted their sauces are too heavy. Much better options close by.
(2)Amy B.
I was not at all impressed with Lucia. I lived in the North End for 2 years and this was the worst place I ate at and probably the only one I would tell people to avoid. I ordered the pesto gnocchi and it was the worst pesto I've had. The sauce was very bland and had absolutely no flavor. The service was awful - our waitress was so miserable and rude and she acted as if asking her for another glass of water was the most daunting task on earth. I brought my father and sister here and really wished I hadn't - neither of them are very picky but I could tell they weren't really impressed with their meals, especially after eating at some of the other North End restaurants I took them to. To sum it up, I would never go back here.
(2)Julie A.
It's pricey. The decor, service and paper napkins might not be worth the money. Mussels tasted a smidge rubbery. Bread wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. BUT THE GNOCCHI WITH PESTO WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. Get that. And some homemade sangria. These three stars are very happy.
(3)Aaron H.
Authentic, fresh Italian food in a quiet setting; however customer service leaves something to be desired. We enjoyed the eggplant parmesan and bruschetta napoletena. Generous portions! Our waitress was very nice and the lady who brought our beverages, bread and olive oil was very attentive. Our main complaint about this place is that they would not allow us to bring our stroller for our infant to the table. Thus, the baby had to sleep in my wife's arms while we ate and parked the stroller in the back of the restaurant even though there was ample room to pull the stroller to the table. The hostess and vallet guy made my wife feel as though this was not a child-friendly place, nor very welcoming. It was the wrong way to start the experience. It's hard enough to bring a small child through a big city on a hot day, and it always feels like we're in someone's way, so it was just a bit frustrating to get that attitude from the restaurant staff. The good food made up for the sour welcome to our family, so it is worth a try if you don't want to wait in the long lines for some of the more popular Italian places on Hanover Street. The paintings on the ceiling are quite entertaining and interesting. By the way the firefighters in the station across the street say that Lucia is the place they eat!
(3)Austin C.
Wow. Eating here was in my top 5 restaurant experiences ever. They sat us downstairs - which was recently renovated. There were 6 in our party and the staff was able to keep up with our needs very well. Great atmosphere. More than anything the food was incredible - had a veal dish. Delicious. Go for it!!!
(5)Nikki Y.
I went to this restaurant on a Saturday night with my husband. The wait was 20 minutes, so we sat in the bar while we waited. We were pretty comfortable so we decided to have our meal there. We ordered the following: brucetta with mozzarella cheese, shrimp appetizer, and the pollo foccacia. All three items were amazing. The brucetta was very fresh tasting. It's made with mozzarella cheese so it's different from the run of the mill brucettas. The shrimp appetizer was served on a garlic and olive oil crestini, it was SOOOOOO DELICIOUS!! I couldn't get enough of it. It's a MUST order! We also loved the pollo foccacia. Definitely check this place out if you are in the Boston area on the Northend on a crowded evening.
(4)Sunny Dawn S.
Valet service was prompt and friendly, even for a table of 5. Our server, Mike, was attentive without being annoying. I had the eggplant and my dinner partner had gnocci. Both were good, but the eggplant was special. Everyone at the table ate a bite, and then another, of mine. I loved the atmosphere. The windows were open and a lovely breeze accompanied dinner. The murals on the ceiling are unique, I was surprised how well-done they were. While my food was good, the best part of this dining experience was the open air. Go on a night they'll let you dine inside while enjoying the cool breeze.
(4)Mel D.
Great Italian food in a great neighborhood!
(4)Ashley L.
I went here on a rainy Monday night. With a group of people dressed less than business casual and a little on a budget, so we wanted something casual. The normal places were of course packed and Lucia seemed to have plenty of space for our party of 6 and the menu looked good. The food was just okay. The bread served was not great. We didn't order any appetizers and our meals were delivered quickly. I ordered the chicken focaccia and it tasted great. Portion was decent. But my penne tasted like it was from a cafeteria. Extremely bland and mushy. Everyone else in my party seemed to have the same reaction. Food was good enough to eat, but nothing special. If the price has been a little lower, I think I would have given it an extra star. The actual dining room was nice. Very clean and with attentive wait staff. The hostess rushed us in the door, but was still friendly. If Lucia was located outside of the North End, I would probably go back. But with so many other dining options I would have to pass it up to try something new.
(3)Jason D.
Lucia's is located far down Hanover St., so most of the other restaurants are busier/more difficult to enter on a busy night. We got tables right away and enjoyed GREAT food, great service and a delightful wine menu.
(4)Paul M.
Oh Lucia, what happened? You were once my favorite spot in the North End- great food, lower prices compared to other North End Restaurants and a quaint, romantic atmosphere. But now everything seems to have slipped. Over the last 5 years I feel like things have gotten louder and louder here to the point you have to shout to hear your dinner companions. That would be okay if the food quality hadn't gone downhill. The gnocchi is good gnocchi in terms of texture but both the gnocchi with veal (abruzzi) and the gnocchi al pesto have been lackluster. I tried the al pesto today ($16.50) and it was bland. I also ordered a side of meatballs for $8.25 and it was 2 decently sized meatballs that were dried out (they crumbled into pieces when cut) and tasted like something my Irish ass could make. What really prompts this negative review is the way our party was treated. A reservation was made for 20. Only 18 showed. We were properly seated at a table that could accommodate 20. We were then told, after all 18 of us were seated and served water and wine, that we'd have to move to accommodate a surprise party. We were then given what appeared to be the party's table: a much smaller table that seemed like it was designed to accommodate 16 at most. My legs were crossed so tight I lost circulation. There wasn't enough room for 18 place settings let alone 18 people (or the 20 we were supposed to have). When we were moved we were promised another table would be added to ours to give us more room as soon as available. When the party at that table got up (1/2 way through our entrees) we were told we couldn't have that table and it was seated to another party. It was not until my g/f complained that we had been promised this extra room when we agreed to move that this other party was asked to move and we were given the space. I believe they comped some of the apps we'd ordered, so they did try to remedy the situation but it felt a little too little too late for me. The kicker was the party we'd been moved to accommodate only looked to have 16 people or less and would have fit at the table we'd been moved to. Ugh. It'll be a long time before I'm back..
(2)Erhardt G.
Went to Lucia with my family after walking most of the way down Hanover Street and not wanting to stress out over back-tracking to find a table for five. We were sat immediately on a beautiful Saturday evening; albeit it early in the evening, this may have been foreboding. And it would have been great to sit in one of the many empty tables on the first floor to enjoy the remaining sunlight, but we were ushered into the dark basement instead. Our waitress seemed a bit out of sorts but was generally a warm person and dealt well with my family's musings. We started with the lightly fried calamari, which was very good. My dish had penne pasta with it, which was pretty terrible, and my chicken was a bit bland but I had enough to eat. The drinks were good though. Tasty and strong cocktails made the food go down easier. I would stop here again for calamari and drinks but not for dinner.
(2)Jen F.
We stopped by Lucia for a quick bite to eat and some refreshments on our way through the North End and I was not super impressed. The service was decent, the atmosphere was nice, but the appetizer was basically status quo (nothing incredible). Also, I am pretty positive that they served us a different wine from what we ordered. But I couldn't prove it. There is a lot to choose from in the North End, obviously, so choose wisely!
(3)Ali E.
This was the only place we found on Hanover street on a friday night that didn't have a wait of at least an hour, which bumped it up on the list ever so slightly. Minus one star for mediocre service, but I felt like that was more the exception than the rule, and it was taking us a while to decide what we wanted regardless. We asked what the waiter liked best - the house specialty, and that seemed to make all the difference. He reccommended the veal, so every one of us got some incarnation of veal dish - they were all so good. I wish I could remember the name of what I had: veal stuffed with prociutto and mushrooms and cheese, oh wow was it awesome. The pesto gnocchi was similarly stellar. The wine we had was nicely paired and not too expensive (though that kind of goes out the window when you order two bottles). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jaslin G.
The service was fine. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The food came out on time and there was no long wait. However, the food was overpriced for it's poor quality. The bread that came as an appetizer was a little stale and not warm at all, making it very difficult to spread any butter on it. The fettucine alfredo tasted like warm mayo and the pasta didn't seem fully cooked. The lasagna tasted like dog food and basically a big chunk of meat. Overall the food was bland and flavorless. The decor was pretty awesome, really looked like an Italian restaurant should. All in all, if you're REALLY hungry and you can't get anywhere else, that should probably be the only scenario in which you should go in. Ciao.
(2)Bradford M.
My mom always wins. :-/ So my mom was out here last week for a conference, and the night she flew into town we decided to wander out to the North End to grab dinner at some Italian spot or other. Basically we just walked down Hanover St. until something smelled good, which ended up leading us to Lucia. The place was maybe 1/3 full (on a Tuesday night), so we were seated immediately. I loved the ambiance, cute murals on the walls and ceiling. I'm gonna guess that the place seated 40 or so, perfect for a corner 'ristorante'. Diane, our server, balanced attentiveness with unobtrusiveness perfectly. I started with a glass of an Italian red wine I wasn't familiar with, and my mom had a beer she hadn't heard of. My wine was good. My mom's beer was better. For dinner I went with the ravioli special (lobster ravioli with shrimp in a cheesy creamy sauce whose name I forget), and my mother went with chicken in a spicy red sauce (whose name I also forget). Both entrees were dynamite, though my mom's was slightly better. I really want to know how they managed to get the stripes into my ravioli. I mean, perfectly striped cream and green/black ravioli? I'm puzzled. For dessert I had coffee and a cannoli. It was great. My mom had lemon sorbet, which was served in a frozen lemon rind. It was incredible. Prices were mid-range for a somewhat better than mid-range experience. I really liked this place, and will definitely go back. Five stars baby! Next time I'm just going to have whatever my mom has though. Damnit.
(5)jenn e.
My entire experience at Lucia's was awful. The food was subpar at best. My standards for italian food are not very high, but this was worse than what I could've made myself, and I'm a terrible cook. The Caesar salad was nothing special- what you'd expect to find in the ready made section of a grocery store. The marinara sauce on the pasta was watery. And it was incredibly overpriced for what were clearly low quality ingredients. What upset me the most, though, wasn't even the food. It was the fact that when they split our bill four ways, apparently their computer system isn't smart enough to figure out how to adjust the 18% automatic tip so that it's 18% of the total of your check, and not 18% of the total of the bill. I ended up paying a 50% tip!!! The staff had absolutely no interest in helping me fix it, and just shrugged their shoulders, even when I asked them over and over and over again to figure out a way to change it. I had to practically badger them just to get them to acknowledge that they were charging me too much for tip, and even after they admitted it, the manager himself told me "there's nothing we can do about it," and shrugged. He didn't even apologize. What a loser. Don't go here, end of story. You've got plenty of other places to choose from where you can find a friendlier staff and better food.
(1)Itch S.
I remember when this placed used to line up around the block. I think food sophistication has changed in the clientele to the North End and they have not evolved. I find myself going every now and then because of just that, it is still pretty much the same menu and now there is no wait. I just wish they invest a bit more in the food prep. A simple food makeover would go great lengths. I'll still go again. Old habits die hard.
(2)Garth S.
My friends and I happened upon Lucia last September as we wandered the North End looking for lunch. The restaurant was not crowded and we were seated immediately at a corner table next to a window overlooking your typical North End side street: a narrow lane, a brick wall, strolling tourists. The open windows let in a nice breeze along with the scent of the flowers growing in the window box. A pleasant start for sure. The waiter appeared quickly to take drink orders, bring us bread and tell us about the specials. We placed our orders and waited. The restaurant was nearly empty but for whatever reason, the service was unbearably slow and once the bread was exhausted, I started getting annoyed. My fault, I suppose. Maybe I should have had a snack before going to lunch. At one point, when a couple of parties seated after us received their food long before we did, I wondered if we'd been forgotten. But such things happen and unless there's something seriously wrong, I don't complain. The day was nice, our seats were comfortable and we passed the time. I'd like to say the wait was worth it but the food, when it finally arrived, was just OK. It was also expensive: Lucia does not have a lunch menu or lunch prices. A long wait, OK food, and dinner prices for lunch. Not the best use of my time but, hey, it was still better than Olive Garden. Would I return? I guess I wouldn't say no if everyone else was set on it but I don't think I'd seek out Lucia, either. I will say that I really liked the ambiance but without more, a good seat and the scent of flowers isn't worth the price.
(3)Eric S.
I was a bit disappointed by this place, sadly. We were seated quickly, which was nice, and the staff were all very nice. However, we had a few problems that I just couldn't get over: 1. The air conditioner downstairs blows crazy cold until customers start complaining. I normally run hot, and was chilly. My hubby had to put his coat on. Not until another table left would they turn it down. 2. They broke and spilled a bottle of sparkling water all over the table and us. No biggie... but then they charged us for it!? I was too done to even complain by the time the bill came. 3. The waitress insisted the gnocchi had no dairy in them but my lactose-intolerant hubby proved otherwise within 10 minutes of leaving the restaurant. 4. Like several other reviewers said - the food ain't cheap and it's too bland to be worth the money it costs. Nothing bad, but we've had better.
(2)Liza R.
I agree with the other reviewer when she says it's Definitely NOT the best place in the North End. However, we didn't feel like waiting in the rain so we decided to give this place a shot since they were able to seat us right away. I had the Marco Polo which unfortunately was nothing special, your usual frutti dimare tossed with spaghetti. I was very disappointed, especially for the price. I also felt that the portions were rather skimpy...again, for the price. The service that night was pretty bad, but I was understanding because there were several large parties going on at the moment as well. Overall this place is not very memorable and I probably won't be going back.
(2)Tina D.
If I could give less than 1 star for this ridiculous establishment, I certainly would do so. I rushed home tonight after dining at Lucia just to write a review so that no one else has a similar experience. I arrived tonight with a friend to dine at around 7:30pm. The service from the start was pushy, though there were only 3 other occupied tables. The food was mediocre at best; the meal began with a bland salad, and progressed to a chicken dish and a seafood dish, which were accompanied by pasta from a box in the supermarket, presumably. However, the real treat began at the end of the meal. I paid the $75 bill with a $100 gift certificate. As I have waitressed at four high-end Boston area restaurants before, I assumed that I would be issued a gift certificate for the remaining balance, as is customary with every other restaurant I have ever dined at or worked at. Not at Lucia, though. Instead, I was informed that my gift certificate would not be re-issued in any way; in fact, I would be basically eating the remaining $25. I asked the manager politely why this was and if that was the policy, said that we would like to order something else. We were told that we could not order something else (dessert, coffee, wine, or any food to go), though we were never told of this rule beforehand. The manager and the waitress rudely left our table before they could answer our questions about why such a policy is in place, or at least, why this rule was not noted on the gift card. Of course, I knew that no cash would be refunded. I just simply wanted an explanation of why this was the case. I will certainly never dine here again, and will make certain that none of my family or friends ever make the same mistake of dining at Lucia.
(1)Stan W.
My husband and I had dinner here - well, actually, he did. I ended up getting pizza at Bova's because the second entrée I ordered never arrived. The first entrée, lobster ravioli, did not taste fresh. The owner/manager argued that it was indeed fresh, in any event, I ordered something else. But after my husband finished his dinner - with mine nowhere in sight, we paid the check and left. Never again. Too bad, we live right down the street and it would have been a nice, convenient place to go. The search continues....
(1)Bobby K.
If this place were anywhere else, I would rate it higher. It's decent, but when you're in the North End, why opt for decent? We had a reunion type dinner there a few weekends ago, the first time back in Boston for a lot of us in quite some time. This was the only place we could get a reservation for 10 on a Saturday night. The food was okay. The wine was okay. Our waitress couldn't count. We had a couple cards and a stack of cash that got sent back to us as not enough twice before we made her watch us count it out as sufficient. I won't be back as there are just too many better options in that 1/4 mile radius.
(2)Luke P.
This was one of the worst meals I've had in the North End. We went around 6:30 PM on a Saturday since our favorite spots all had very long waits. I lived in the N.End for 7 years and never tried Lucia as it was far down Hanover and always seemed like one of those generic Italian spots that catered solely to the tourists. I had hoped my theory was wrong, but was sadly disappointed. The ambiance is OK, actually the downstairs room is kind of nice, but that was by far the best thing about the meal. Our server wasn't very friendly or helpful. I ordered the caprese salad thinking it would be impossible to mess up, and while it was edible, it was completely unremarkable. Now for the fatal flaw of the restaurant. I had ordered a pasta special, but when my meal came out it was barely luke-warm and resembled nothing like the verbal description. I thought I had misremembered what the waitress said, but then it became clear I had received the Ammazzafame: Penne sautéed with porcini mushrooms, sliced sausages, broccoli, and sun dried tomatoes, capers. The sauce in this dish was arguably the most over-salted thing I've ever eaten. I mean it completely ruined any other flavors that might have been present. I probably should have said something to the waitress, but by that point, I think we just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. My date ordered the pesto gnocci, which while very pedestrian, was 1000x better than my entree. Unfortunately, the North End is littered with these kind of places. They look decent on the outside, but really don't serve food much better than The Olive Garden.
(1)Reena S.
Decent food. But watch out. They won't give you bread and oil unless you ask!
(2)Randi F.
A-OK, yep that explains it perfectly. The white sangria was really good. Bruschetta didn't have balsamic vinegar on it, which I thought was odd. It was just untoasted bread, tomato, basil and chunks of cool mozzarella. Good, but odd. The Pollo Focaccia was really good, super salty, but it wasn't too much. I tried my friend's penne with pesto, and the pesto was decent, but the pasta tasted like it came from a box. We had been hoping for handmade pasta. The server was helpful without being intrusive. Just know, you get a side bowl of pasta with every dish, so don't order an extra one. We missed that memo and our server didn't inform us, so we ended up with way more pasta than we needed.
(3)Andrew K.
8 people with no reservations? No problem, we can sit you right away. One of the busiest nights in town (college move back weekend) and you can sit 8 people right away? Does that tell you anything? I was fighting it all the way, with sweet smells of the St. Anthony's feast calling me from the nearby streets, but to no avail, we were here. Pasta - can you say "Previously Frozen?" The Tortellini Quattro Formaggi could have been the Tortellini Quite Frozen. It was bland, tasteless. Alfredo - first of all, not enough sauce. Second of all - not enough sauce. My poor wife had a heaping mound of pasta.... dry plain pasta without sauce... Maybe we ordered the wrong thing? Maybe I have the wrong place based on all of these other good reviews? Biggest pet peeve - knowing I spent $60 on something I could have cooked for $5. Go to the market, get some Ragu and save some money.
(1)Jamie F.
My brother owed me dinner so of course I picked one of my fave restaurants Neptune Oyster. Unfortunately, the wait was two hours... I guess, Lucia, it is. We were seated right away on a Saturday night, which should have been a red flag. Roberto was our server but he hardly served us. First, we overheard him announcing the Specials to other patrons but neglected to share that info with us. Fine, whatever. Ordered the calamari appetizer, which was pretty good. After we finished that, it took over 1 hour 15 minutes for our entrees to arrive, which is unacceptable. Roberto was basically MIA and never informed us that the kitchen was "backed up" nor apologized on behalf. In fact, the only time we were able to speak to him was because we flagged him over. Not to mention, he never cleared away our appetizer plate nor refilled our waters. A smart waiter would've also noticed and cared to ask why I did not finish my pasta dish (it tasted awful). He did not offer bread, parmesan cheese, dessert menu, nothing. Of course, he was only prompt with the check. So we decided to write Roberto a few notes on the receipt, hoping he'd re-evaluate himself and understand why we tipped him so. He must've thought he deserved more because he added $9 to the tip on our $54 bill (my brother verified his bank statement). That is so shady and downright dirty!! From reading other reviews, this is not the first time it's happened. Called to speak to the manager immediately and he expressed no interest whatsoever in our bad experience nor apologized. He simply requested the waiter's name and check number - have not heard back yet. Thankfully, the credit card company will remove the additional charge and investigate further. There is nothing worse about a restaurant than bad service and bad management. With so many other dining options in the North End, do yourself a favor and avoid Lucia.
(1)Kristina M.
This food was VERY bland and blah. The service was pretty good, but the staff seems as though they would rather be anywhere else besides there. I could compare the taste to Denny's. They do have very good red wines, though. If you want some 'ok' food super fast (service is very very fast), then this is your place! If you want authentic Italian food, look elsewhere.
(1)Ken P.
We were in Boston for a family vacation. My family loves Italian. Lucia's was great. The basic dishes were great for the kids. The veal dishes were great for the adults. The atmosphere was fabulous old school Italian, just a little loud. Danny was terrific with perfect recommendations.
(4)Sarah M.
My friends and I bundled up and headed to the North End for dinner on MLK day. We stumbled upon this restaurant and while reading a menu an older fellow told us the food was really good, so we went in. We were a party of 8 and got seated almost instantly after the pushed a table next to another one. The food was good, everyone enjoyed there pasta. The prices were reasonable and I finally found someone able to balance a potato gnocchi and pesto cream sauce perfectly. The service was good; food came out quick, bread was yummy. It was a great experience but nothing to write home about. And that older guy? Totally the maitre d'.
(3)David O.
Sublime, Heavenly. Outstanding. You must visit here. We arrived late on a Monday night due to delays on the train. The staff was tremendously attentive and the food was beyond outstanding. We started off with the calamari sauteed in a light red sauce. No frozen fried nastiness here. The calamari was cooked very well, not chewy with a great flavor. Even my 11 year old daughter, who is very skeptical of these things ate them. My travelmate ordered veal Marsala, I ordered linguine with clams, and my daughter ordered the classic fettuccine Alfredo. My linguine with clams was outstanding, with fresh littlenecks still in the shell in a light white sauce with a touch of perfect seasoning. However, I would say I didn't have the best dish. My travelmate veal Marsala with a side of penne was tremendous. Thin tender strips of veal in a perfectly prepared Marsala sauce. But the sublime, the tremendous, the best dish of all was the fettuccine Alfredo. Fresh made pasta in a perfect Alfredo sauce that provided all of its key flavors of butter, cream and cheese danced on the palette. No oil in the bottom of the bowl, it really was - perfect. My daughter ordered a chocolate lava cake, I had cannoli, and my travelmate got a hazelnut cake. All of the desserts were outstanding, but the cannoli, the CANNOLI. Lucia's is worth it for the cannoli alone. It was absolute perfection. It wasn't overly sweet, the filling was smooth but not light, the shell was firm but not a hard shell. Very hard to beat in the North End, right on the Freedom Trail, in shadow of Paul Revere.
(5)Slim S.
My girl and I were walking around in the North End on a Sunday night before Columbus Day. It was getting close to ten and we happened by this restaurant and so we asked if they were still open. They accommodated us and we ordered a couple pasta dishes. No bread was brought out and I don't know if that was because the place was getting ready to close. But we didn't care since our pasta was filling enough. I had the homemade "maccheroni all chitarra" and she had the "tortellini ai quattro formaggi." The pastas were good with nice flavors and the portions were adequate. A little skimpy on the service though (we sat there a bit with empty water glasses to be filled, and the bread thing as well...). My pasta tasted exactly my my grandma makes at home, who is from Molise, and I think these owners are originally from Abruzzi, which is close to that region. It looks like the place has been around for a while and it was once a real family-run establishment. Not so sure about that anymore. Either way we had a good meal and given that there are so many other choices in the area for Italian I can't really compare to the others, since we only ate here. They have a bar area downstairs and another dining area. I am sure the place gets more hopping on the weekend evenings, especially in the summertime. I give the mediocre three star review for being okay, not bad, but not really remarkable. Unfortunately this is a type of review that just says "give it a try and hope that you like it, since it is decent enough."
(3)Tracy K.
Definitely not the best place in the North End. But (or therefore) you get seated quickly. This place made me laugh quite a bit, first at the oh-so-awkward-but-still-endearing waiter, then at the ceiling painted like the Sistine Chapel. The bread was underwhelming, a taste of what the rest of the meal would be like. Bland shrimp scampi, bland bland bland. In fact I probably won't remember it in a week. But hey, one great thing is that it's close to Mike's Pastry!
(3)Milee S.
I went to Lucia's on a Monday night (not usually a busy night by any standards) to celebrate Valentine's Day. My bf had heard that reservatins were necessary, but when we walked in, there was hardly anyone there, except for a large party of about 15 and a couple small groups. We got one of the more intimate booths near back. Service was great! We had a server who was evidently from Italy. WIne list is pretty extensive, as are the menu choices. It was VERY difficult to choose what we wanted! For appetizers, I started with fried calamari. The portion was quite large, and the tomato dipping sauce was perfectly spiced. We also each got a glass of zinfandel, which was great too. He had the bruschetta, which had delicious, soft mozzerella cheese. For entrees, I got the breaded chicken cutlet with a layer of eggplant and sauce. My entree came with a choice of salad or pasta, and I chose the salad. It wasn't exceptional. And they used a creamy italian dressing. He got something called the ammanzamma (I think that's how to spell it), which was pasta tossed with sausages and other veggies. He really enjoyed it, while my portion was HUGE. I couldn't finish it, but could tell it was perfectly cooked. Bread was typical Italian bread. With no dipping oil. We skipped out on coffee and dessert, although there were a lot of choices in that department. Lucia's is very romantic, not loud at all, and in the heart of the North End. It was a fantastic evening. I am looking forward to going back for some pasta, as those choices looked delicious! Prices are really reasonable, so you can still impress without breaking the bank!
(4)Raj S.
I am not sure if I want to give this place 3 star or 4. We walked all over little Italy before deciding on this restaurant. It was late in the evening so got seated fairly quickly. They had two hostess one at the door she was quite pleasant but the one who seated us had an attitude. She seated us right next to this family who were extremely loud, even for Boston... Food was good but not so great that you can't find it in any other Italian place. We had mussels steamed in white wine which was decent. Hubby had veal and I had fried cod and sausage, all in all not bad but nothing to rave about. Our server was efficient and attentive. We liked him. They have good selection of wine and their espresso was great but not sure what to make of panna-cotta we had for desert.
(3)Rori S.
On a busy Saturday evening we were seated within 1/2 hour, which isn't bad for a walk-up in the North End. The waiter was friendly, helpful and very competent. We ordered the Bruschetta Napoletana, Caprese and Olivata for appetizers and all were tasty. However, I've had better fresh mozarella elsewhere but this was still very acceptable. For main course, I had the Gnocchi al Pesto and I have to say, it was delicious. You know the feeling when you order a dish, and when it arrives it looks great, and then tastes even better... it was like that. I woke up this morning wanting another plate for breakfast! For desert, I had the Tiramisu. Unfortunately, it was bland and uninspired. Oh well. However, despite the minor disappointment of the Tiramisu, we had a good time at Lucia's. Good food, good service and good atmosphere. And the prices were reasonable too. We'll be back.
(4)Adrienne M.
I hate giving three star reviews because I feel like places are either good or they're not, but Ristorante Lucia really is one of those mediocre places that doesn't deserve a good or bad review. The food is fine but unexceptional, and there are certainly better places in the North End for the price. One word of caution: don't let them seat you upstairs - the last time we went there were several large groups there drinking lots of wine and talking and laughing loudly and because we were in the corner, all the sound was directed right into our ears and it was so loud it was painful. I'm not talking just "not quiet enough to be romantic", this was so loud that my ears were actually in pain (think LOUD rock concert). Yeah. Not enjoyable.
(3)DG S.
Excellent experience! Braciolettine Calabrese was perfectly cooked and no one in our 12 top had a single complaint.
(4)Valerie F.
Went into the North End to use our Buy With Me coupons for G'Vanni's and immediately we were rudely turned away because we did not make a reservation so we turned the corner and went to Lucia's which was awesome! Almost glad we got turned away because this restaurant if now one of my favorites, I had the Pollo Focaccia and it was delicious, wine was awesome and service was good too. Will definitely go back!
(5)Kristen C.
One of my favorite places in the North End - best part (aside from the delicious food...try the bruscetta, yum!) is that they can usually sit you, without much of a wait!!!
(5)Claire D.
The meal was awful-- too much salt and nothing tasted fresh. I would not recommend this place at all.
(1)Sidanshu G.
Bad service... Really Bad service.......No great interiors...... Food was not great either.... I would never ever go back again to this place......
(1)MTraveler H.
My husband and I dined here after reading several reviews and were so pleased with the experience. The staff was very welcoming and personable. Our table was in the basement of the restaurant which I would call the wine cellar, it was perfect for us! I ordered the Chicken Marsala which was very tasty. Everything from the food to the wine was delicious. We would absolutely eat here again and would highly recommend it to those who are looking for a high quality Italian meal in the North End.
(5)JR W.
we were going to Giacomo's originally but changed plans after seeing its line out the door. now i really wish we would have waited. when we asked our server about two dishes, he flatly said 'i don't know'. . . the gnocchi al pesto was flat too - way too creamy for a pesto sauce. my dish had this overwhelming powdery taste to every bite. yuck. and i chewed on some gritty stuff in my dish...so bad. and overpriced...
(1)J B.
I recently planned a Girl Scout trip to Boston for 12 girls and their moms. We ended our long day of touring in the North end so I thought it would be nice to be able to eat there instead of treking all the way back to our hotel by Boston Common. I did of course set this up ahead of time because of the size of our group. I had a lot of trouble getting any restaurant in the North end to take our party and give us a fixed menu. Anthony at Lucia was more than happy to help us. I was a bit nervous that maybe the food wasn't going to be that good being he was the only one willing to accommodate us on a fall Saturday evening, the busiest time for any New England restaurant. I was so happy we came here. Not only was the food delicious but the staff was wonderful. The portions were very large and very reasonable. Great location too! We walked right across the street after touring The Old North Church. I plan on going back in the spring with my family.
(4)Ben H.
The wine was good, gnocchi pesto was outstanding, and the dessert was decent (chocolate lava cake). The service was great. Our waiter talked like the elevator operator in the Hudsucker Proxy ("hiya, buddy"). He was cool. A little overpriced, but a very good experience.
(4)Sherry T.
Told that we had to eat somewhere in North End if we were going to Boston. Found Lucia's on OpenTable (trying to rack up my points), so I made the reservation. Overall, service was pretty good. It's a tiny place so we were a little crowded. But still, nothing that really bothered me. Everyone in my group really liked their food. I thought mine, the gnocchi with pesto and pine nuts, was a little oily. I did try some of the others' dishes and they were all really good...guess I just had some bad luck. The gnocchi itself was good but the sauce was lacking.
(3)Lorraine F.
Went for lunch and sat in the basement floor. It was a little cold down there, but the chicken parmigiana was great. I've been suffering from wrist injuries and ordered mine pre-cut. When the server brought it over, I really thought they'd forgotten. I was really impressed when I noticed it really was cut, but just cleverly disguised. I'm glad it didn't affect the presentation of the meal. ^_^ The chicken itself was really tender and juicy. I'll definitely be going back. The server was a little inattentive though. I had to call her over for more water, but after that, she paid more attention. I guess it was just too quite when I was there.
(4)Steven Z.
Had linguine and clams supposedly with garlic and wine. Almost no garlic and watery wine. But everyone else liked their meal and the bruschetta was very good. But bread was cold and a bit stale and only came with butter, no olive oil. Service was very fast, almost too fast which made me think the meals were already prepared.
(2)marie b.
I'm so sad to see all these bad reviews because my friends and I just went there last night and had a GREAT meal. It was pretty busy on a Friday night but we didn't wait long. We got the Bruschetta Napolitano(?) as an app. I'm not crazy about tomatoes and I thought they were the best I had ever had. The bread could've been toasted more, it was a bit soggy but we wiped the plate clean it was so good! Our meals came out steaming hot, I got the cheese tortelini, my friend got the chicken parm and my other friend got something else I can't remember, but he loved it. The choc lava cake and eclairs for desert were also great! Atmosphere was great, the only thing bad we could say about the place was that the server could have been a bit more friendly, but he did the job! Would def. come back again.
(4)Mary P.
Can I say, "Yummy!" The dishes my cousin and I had were truly very flavorful and something we've never had or maybe even seen on other menus in the many Italian restaurants we've been to. She had the Pollo Del Saggittario. I had a bite or two of it. It was amazing...the anchovies weren't overpowering at all. The combination of all the ingredients made the dish perfect in it's flavor. My cousin liked her dish so much that she tried to make it at home...it wasn't the same. I had the Braciolettine Calabrese...veal rolled and stuffed with my favorites prosciutto and mozzarella. This dish hit the spot for me!!! Just the right spices, and having mushrooms in the sauce made it even better. I would definitely go back and try other specialty dishes.
(5)Simona S.
Came here on a Saturday night after my second failed attempt at grabbing dinner at Giacomo's (the line was entirely out the door and my "date" was not all about waiting). They told us that there would be a 30-45 minute wait at Lucia's so we put our name down and grabbed drinks at Strega a few doors down. We came back in 25 minutes and the woman gave us major attitude and said that she was "waiting for us and had called our name twice" even though we told her we would be back in 25 because we didn't feel like waiting in the cold. But that was really the worst part of the whole experience. The food-- amazing. The pasta was perfectly cooked. I had the Pollo Saggitario and it was really quite excellent. I wasn't filled to the brim-- which was good because I got to snag an awesome cannoli at Lulu's. As for the service-- well the waiter could have been a little more attentive. The food took a long time to get to us and the waiter could have done a better job of making sure if we needed our glasses refilled (and we did). Food-wise, definitely worth checking out, and I'd say that the prices were pretty reasonable as well. Nothing was really eye-poppingly expensive and I thought the quality was quite good. I'd probably come back here again-- but only if Giacomo's was closed and/or if my date was impatient.
(4)Jim P.
We were here early on a rainy Friday night. The hostess asked if we had reservations, which we didn't and she led us into the basement. The ambiance of the main floor was totally lost here, Low ceilings, hot and bright lights. I asked the hostess if she could seat us upstairs (it was 90% empty at the time) and she hesitated and said she's see what she could do. As she seated us, I saw the owner/manager shoot her a look that seemed to say, "what the hell are you doing?' Then he took over as our server - was a little bit of a condescending jerk. It was a little strange. The place was still empty when we left. Food was not too bad, but nothing worth having an attitude about. It's a 2nd tier choice for Italian food in the North End.
(3)Kristin N.
Lucia has THE BEST lobster raviolis I've had in Boston. They aren't on the menu, but they are always mentioned as a special. Great sauce with shrimp and lobster meat on top. SO good. They also have delicious martinis and cosmos - all of which are in a bigger glass than most North End restaurants.
(4)Kristine M.
Really cozy and reasonably priced. We had good service and lot of tasty food. The chicken parm is done right and I love their lasagna. Their fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil is like little bits o' heaven. I noticed they even had risi e bisi on the menu, which I didn't try, but it's not something you see on menus very often -- even in the North End! I will definitely be returning...and bringing my Italian half of the family there when they visit!
(4)Amanda Z.
By far one of the worst restaurants I've ever been to in the North end. The food is just blah, nothing special at all about it, although I admit, if the service wasn't so awful, I probably wouldn't even bother to write a review. The management is absolutely horrible. My party of 7 was there for an hour and a half and we were practically being shoved out of the restaurant as soon as we paid our check. As I was coming back from the bathroom, I heard a manager telling another one that we needed to "just leave" and asked if she could go "talk to our table". No more than 5 minutes later, we had 2 managers come by and ask if we needed anything else, practically pulling our chairs out from below us. If a party of 7 can't spend an hour and a half eating there generous meal, you need to learn how to run your business. Turning over tables fast is certainly not worth disgruntling well paying customers.
(1)Bliss D.
I heard you couldn't get a bad Italian meal in the North End. I heard wrong. Main Problems: 1. The bread was sub-par and was brought out with butter packets, not oil and balsamic. 2. Our meals were brought out in under 5 minutes, which seems sketchy to me, and the waitress did not offer us fresh ground pepper or parmesan cheese. It turns out we could get parmesan cheese if we asked for it (but not the fresh kind), and our only peppr option was the shaker on the table. 3. My salad supposedly was greens with olives, onions, and tomatoes. It came out and there were plenty of onions, MAYBE two olives, and ONE small wedge of a barely ripe and mealy tomato. If I order a $28 dish of pasta (with no meat or vegetables or random expensive ingredients) it better be so delicious I want to pee myself. Nope. It was medium at best. The salad was disappointing. My friend felt the same. Our night was only salvaged by the good wine and the post-dinner trip to Mike's for cannolis.
(2)Beth M.
This is my favorite restaurant in the North End-- it's exactly what I'm looking for when I'm in the mood for Italian-- authentic cuisine in a cozy romantic atmosphere with charmingly amazing service. You really can't miss here. The one draw back is that my favorite things on the menu are so good, I never try anything else (despite all the enticing choices). I'd say at least the last 10 times I've been here I have gotten the same thing. To start my husband and I always get the mozzarella cheese stuffed with prosciutto and topped with red sauce. it sounds heavy but it's not a huge portion so it's a pretty perfect first course. As an entree I always get the pollo lucia-- lightly breaded sauteed chicken in a lemon herb wine sauce with fried artichoke hearts and mushrooms...to die for. And my husband always gets the chicken marsala. I've brought lots of friends and family here and everyone has loved it, so I feel like I can safely vouch for the rest of the menu too...though I've never had dessert here with Mike's and Vittoria right down the street. Nice wine list as well. And I've never had to wait longer than 20 minutes for a table. I highly recommend Lucia if you're in the North End-- personally I enjoy it much more than the really upscale joints on Hanover.
(5)Coco P.
Been here twice for business dinners. The first time was excellent, I think I had a stuffed veal chop and it was wonderful! The second time I went I had the lamb shank and unfortunately it was tough and a bit fatty. Service was good both times though! I would definitely go back
(3)Jenny K.
Mediocre Italian food. I was so excited to try good Italian in Boston's famous North End and was really disappointed by this place. We entered the restaurant and were immediately escorted to the downstairs dining area. The decor is cheesy: dimly lit with walls painted with various Italian landscapes. Our server was an inexplicably nervous but friendly waiter. For a starter, Drew W. and I ordered the bruschetta. It was pretty good. Crisp garlicky toast with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella diced on top, and fresh basil. Messy but good. Drew ordered the tortellini, one of the dishes recommended by the waiter. It sucked. While the portion was hearty, it essentially looked and tasted like those pastas you buy in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. The cheese tortellini was plated with no sauce. It was bland and overly doughy. I ordered the shrimp gambieri. This dish was okay but not that great. It consisted of linguine, shrimp and olives in an arrabiata marinara sauce. The sauce was not very spicy or particularly flavorful.
(2)Beth E.
I had a dinner here for my 30th birthday. With like 16 of my closest friends. We sat upstairs. We took up the entire middle of the room. The food was good (even though my friend ended up with something other than what he ordered, but luckily, it was my friend who is pretty much the human vacuum, he ate what he was served and enjoyed it). Bathrooms are on the lowest of the 3 levels, so there was some up and down the stairs action, but no one seemed to really mind. Needless to say, we were there for a few hours. The service was great. Young Italian waiters with hot accents. Our head waitress was fantastic. She was very patient with us, and especially with me, skipping over me when taking our order because I hadn't started reading the menu yet because I was too busy chatting with my friends. She was all smiles all night. And so was I.
(4)Jeremy B.
Stumbled on this place after being deterred by Giacomo's long line. Great food, fast friendly service and a charming atmosphere. No complaints at all.
(4)Nick S.
They've got the best chicken parm this side of the Mississippi, and I've tried pretty much every restaurant on the east side. Still working on the west side - but for now, Lucia's takes the title.
(5)Nic A.
Love this place! They have a great selection of food, and the ambiance is great. If they give you a choice, dine on the bottom floor. They renovated it a little less than a year ago and turned it into a lounge atmosphere, and it's lovely. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because my boyfriend and I went this past Valentine's Day, and our reservation got messed up. But considering that was the only problem I've ever had at this place, I like to chalk it up to just being really busy for the holiday.
(4)Alicia M.
The food at this place is fantastic. It reminds me of my trips to Florence and Rome. The prices are in line with those in the North End, not dirt cheap but reasonable for the food you get. A friend of mine from Italy recommended me to this place, and I'm so glad he did. If you want something simple and delicious order the bruschetta and the maccheroni chitarra.
(4)MB R.
We were able to get a walk-in reservation on a busy Saturday. Lots of tables at this multi-level restaurant. Veal was excellent and the we loved the calamari. Waitress was great and never rushed us. Would go back again.
(4)Caroline H.
Over priced and not good. I got the Gnocchi in pesto sauce and it was so bland. I've made better gnocchi at home. My other 2 friends weren't happy with their meals each other. It was too expensive and the quality wasn't good. I've been to so many other better restaurants in the North End. Our waiter was nice but the female hostess was so rude! Definitely wouldn't recommend it. Too expensive and below mediocre.
(1)Richard S.
Giacomo's was completely packed so we came here instead for a quick pre-dinner meal. It was pretty empty so we got seated upstairs immediately. I guess no one normally eats at 4 in the afternoon (cept at Giacomo's). I had the Gamberi Cacciatore at the recommendation from a friend - first time I've had this dish. Not bad, not bad. The two friends who came with me didn't order anything so it was just me munching away. By the time I finished, the entire room was packed with diners, I guess this place gets busy after all.
(3)Meg M.
I went here this past weekend since I got a gift certificate from my parent's for graduation....gotta love free food. The place seemed a bit touristy and overcrowded, and they lost our reservation...not sure how that happens. I had the fried calamari and lasagne for my entree....both were good, not bad, not excellent, but good. The service was kinda crappy as our waitress just came by to take our drink/food orders and then to ask if we wanted the check....not very attentive service but they seemed overcrowded and understaffed. The place was decent but I don't think I'd go back again!
(3)Maria R.
We were so pleasantly surprised by this place! We wandered in for a late lunch and at first wondered if it would be touristy. It wasn't! I had the most amazing pasta with fresh marinara! My husband had an amazing ziti with a pan tossed sausage & sun-dried tomato sauce. It was excellent-- so incredibly flavorful! We sat and had a nice long lunch with house wine and a lovely, open window view of the church next door. Will def. go back!
(4)Marcus D.
Came in here the day after Christmas with a couple of buddies - we were going to Umberto's for a slice and a rice ball but the line was absolutely ridiculous and in this city - real Bostonians will tell you: there is NOTHING worth waiting in line for AND there are way too many places to either eat or drink in where you do NOT have to wait in line. We walked by Lucia's, none of us had ever tried it, there were free tables, so why not. We weren't rushed out, the waitress was cute and attentive, pleasant and spoke Italian, and the mussels were excellent. Not a bad place for lunch, the prices were reasonable, and I wasn't making a beeline for the toilet after I ate.
(3)Lyssa A.
They served store-bought bread with butter before the meal. I'm in the North End, a famous Italian district, and they're serving me boring, stale white bread and butter instead of homemade, chewy, delicious bread dipped in olive oil with all sorts of seasonings? Sure, I'm an out-of-towner (from Austin) with great expectations, but come on. We should have left then. My meal was edible, but how do you mess up lobster ravioli? The red sauce was boring, but fine. My companion's chicken came on a plate solo with a side of sad-looking penne that looked like it had red sauce spilled on it--it wasn't really enough to look like it was supposed to be there. Couldn't they have slid some capellini under the chicken, so he could scoop up the (what should have been but wasn't) delicious white wine sauce with the noodles? The waiter also incessantly topped off our wine glasses, which isn't bad, but weird. There were a million warning signs (angry hostess without an Italian accent), including fairly poor yelp reviews. Heed them!
(1)mike G.
I would like to say I know Italian pretty and Lucia does a pretty good job. It's not too fancy and the price is right. The portions are large and the food is really good quality. I was a little upset when they tried to give away our table at 8:32 when we had reservations at 8:30. I got pretty pissed when they kept hassling us and when we got seated at the manager saw we were eating and drinking a lot, he came and apologized. In summary, good food at a reasonable price.
(4)Sarah S.
I checked out Lucia last week for restaurant week and the menu was so well priced that we ended up not even ordering off the RW menu. They had a great little selection of very affordable wines by the bottle (under $30!) and the food was DELICIOUS. I had the gnocchi al pesto and was in love with it. Our waiter was really friendly (not to mention cute. me-ow), and attentive without being nagging. The decor is inviting, we sat upstairs and liked the low celings covered in paintings. We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and a bottle of wine and our bill was still under $100 including a generous tip. Not bad at all!! I would definitely go back.
(4)Jackie G.
We just ate here for Valentines Day. The food was delicious, well at least mine was! We started off with the bruschetta, which is hard to go wrong with so of course it was good. For an entree, i had the four cheese tortellini and my boyfriend had the chicken cacciatore. The four cheese tortellini was sooooo good, soo cheesy (obviously) oh it melted in my mouth. The chicken cacciatore was decent. its not my personal fav anyway. The portions were on the smaller side, i was expecting huge Italian servings which didn't happen but i was still filled up nonetheless. They made my martini just the way i like it... full of alcohol!! i was a big fan of the food and drink, the service was another story. We had a late reservation so we were the only ones (at the time) waiting to be seated. They told us it was going to be a minute which was fine it was Valentines Day. A few minutes later another couple walks in with the same 9:00 reservation, the host takes 2 menus to seat them, turns to us and goes are you all set or are you waiting for a table. Ummmmm helloooooooo, we've been standing here, you just asked us for our last name and reservation, earth to host. Naturally i expected him to seat us first but nooo he says "oh it will be just one minute" and proceeds to seat this other couple. its ok, i shook it off we were seated like a minute later. Next our waitress comes over (after we had been sitting there for 5 or so minutes) tells us the specials and then walks away. Hmm isn't that when you ask if we wanted something to drink, i thought so, maybe things work different here, maybe she had a long day whatever. She comes back about 10 minutes later and asks us for our drink order. As soon as we're done ordering our drinks she runs away. i wanted to order an appetizer but ok. She comes back 10 minutes later with our drinks and takes our order. We order (see above) and everything is fine. About 15 minutes later she comes back and asks "you didnt order and appetizer right, you just ordered your meals." We told her what we ordered she runs off and then brings us back our bruschetta. She is damn lucky they brought us out bread in a timely manner because i would have been eating the tablecloth at that point, 9:00 is a late dinner. Ok so they bring us the bruschetta and 1 minute later they bring us our food. i hate hate hate hate hate when they do that and then she apologizes that everything came out at once. Well obviously it came out at once, you forgot our friggen appetizer. Shes lucky the food was damn good. But i'm not done yet. My boyfriend was done eating, i was still picking. She comes over picks up his plate and then takes my plate right out from under me and walks away. She didn't even ask if i was done!!! What the hell. if the food wasn't so good i would probably give this place 1 star because the service sucks!!!
(4)Harris H.
not so fresh.......... one of the mussel was bad.
(1)Chinwe N.
I came here with a group from work late during the week. The service was average, the food was classic north end Italian, delicious and authentic. Overall, a solid night out but nothing distinguishable about it.
(4)Meaghan P.
My boyfriend and I brought our parents here to meet for the first time (eeks!) It was during one of the feasts that go on every weekend in the North End. We were loud as most Italian's are but our server was great! We were there for quite awhile but he never made us feel like we needed to leave or that he had other things to do like some servers do. He was always on top of getting us drinks and the food... the food was FANTASTIC!!!! The portions were large but not like humongous so some people were able to finish and some people were able to bring it home for lunch the next day! it was an amazing experience! loved it!
(5)Sami W.
I was there for restaurant week, so I ordered what's in the special Restaurant Week menu. Small portions, which is good for your belly but not for your pocket. The service was Great, our waiter was funny. The food was good, but I wasn't too impressed knowing how good this restaurant is. Maybe if I had ordered off the regular menu my opinion would have been different, I don't know, I'll have to get back to you on that, maybe when I get a raise or something (not anytime soon though).
(4)Elizaveta F.
The food and service at Lucia were exactly up to my expectations of a moderately priced North End restaurant, but nothing made it stand out from its many nearly identical neighbors. The dishes are "traditional Italian," i.e. cheesy, meaty, and fairly predictable. This is not a dining destination, but rather a place to find yourself, like I did, either by complete accident or because everywhere else is full.
(3)Karen E.
While visiting our goddaughter who was graduating from Boston University, she wanted to treat us to a dinner out to celebrate our wedding anniversary. She took us to Lucia and we had a wonderful time! Our table was ready when we arrived, and we got to sit in the front window table, which was nice, because the window was open and it was nice and cool! We ordered sangria, and it was really delicious! The calamari fritti was good, but we could have used a little more sauce. The Bruschetta Napolitano was really yummy, and the Fusilli with shrimp, artichokes, asparagus, and sun-dried tomatoes was superb. We enjoyed the panne cotta, but the best thing was the Torta! Amaretto and Hazelnut cake? Oh yeah, baby! It was amazing! Great cappuccino, too! Our water glasses were never empty. Our server was gracious and warm. It was a perfect meal and a wonderful celebration! Thank you so much!
(5)kkat m.
the best italian food i have ever had. i've realized that italian food in california (unless you're spending an arm and a leg) is really not good. we started off with bruschetta, which was pretty good. i had the linguini with clams in a white wine sauce. that was really good. i didn't really get around to tasting everyone else's dishes, mainly because they had veal, but everyone gave two thumbs up!
(4)