Lucia Italian Restaurant
186B-190B Thames St, Newport, RI, 02840
Lucia Italian Restaurant Menu
-
Vegetarian Starters
-
Vegetarian Entrees
-
9" Pizza
Healthy Meal suggestions for Lucia Italian Restaurant
-
Vegetarian Starters
-
Vegetarian Entrees
-
9" Pizza
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
186B-190B Thames St
Newport, RI, 02840 - Phone (401) 846-4477
- Website https://www.luciarestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Yaniv K.
Great food, 5 star service... Even though the bread seemed defrosted and a bit frozen from the inside, overall the place gets 5 stars. Delicious.
(5)Anirudh C.
Small, rustic looking place but amazing service and awesome food!! Really delicious pizza and bruschetta!! By far the best Italian food I have had in a long time.
(5)Julie E.
Fantastic dinner! By far the best meal we've had in Newport this week! The service was amazing (thanks Matt!) and the food was incredible! The best bruschetta I've ever eaten (we had 6 to choose from-3 were vegetarian!) pizza, spinach, salad, manicotti and a decent selection of wine by the bottle and by the glass! Coffee to finish- a fabulous choice to end our week! We've been coming to Newport for over 20 years- this was probably my favorite meal ever!! Highly recommended!!!
(5)Gina M.
This is a really great place. My pasta was perfect. My pork a little dry. But over all really great.
(4)Amanda W.
Fabulous menu! Northern region Italian Cuisine, with an intimate setting. This is a good place for date night, social gatherings or to just unwind with a to die for meal! Must try for yourself!!!
(5)Derek F.
Their pizza is deliciously prepared with a thin crust and flavorful toppings. Although slightly pricey, their pizza is definitely to-die-for!
(5)Stephen S.
Consistently good food, regardless what you order. Nice atmosphere; friendly waitstaff. Lucia is the nicest person and will try her best to please all customers. Reservation as are honored on time. Suggest you park @ Mary Street lot.
(4)Leslie S.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have eaten at. We come every time we are in Newport. The spinach is amazing and even my young daughter, who typically does not like spinach, eats it up. We have eaten a wide variety of dishes and all are excellent. Plus there are many choices for vegetarians (as well as meat lovers).
(5)Fred B.
Pedestrian, banal Italian fare was a big disappointment after reading the warm reviews. Three stars is generous given the undistinguished cuisine. First of all this restaurant is NOT BYOB despite the reviews indicating otherwise. For starters: a good Italian restaurant should have good Italian bread. Lucia serves insipid air bread that unfortunately was a harbinger of the entrees to follow. I had the Tagliatelle ai Gamberi e Cappesante (Egg Ribbon Pasta sautéed with Shrimps and Scallops) for $19.95. It was a generous portion of Tagliatelle noodles with three shrimp and five dime-sized scallops. The only flavor note was of the olive oil. Less pasta and more seafood would have been more appropriate for the price. The food costs to the restaurant should be about $4 for this dish; at $20 retail that means that food costs are about 20% of what they charge compared with restaurant average pricing of 30-35%. That makes Lucia quite expensive for what they offer. Maybe they can make this aggressive mark-up work for them in a tourist area where they likely never see the same client twice but I'd bet they get very little trade from locals who are more sensitive to value. My wife ordered the Fusilli All'Arrabbiata for $13.95 that lacked the vibrant fiery flavor profile this simple sauce should provide and was served lukewarm. Lucia used to offer traditional penne pasta with Arrabbiata sauce for $9.95, but they switched the penne to fusilli for a four dollar cost adder. Clearly they've increased food prices to optimize gross margin. Noodles and simple sauce: about $1.50 in food costs, At $14 retail this is less than 20% of price charged. Really poor value. Our daughter had the Gnocchi Rosa for $18.95 (potato dumpling in a pink sauce) that was the most successful of the entrees that I felt was flavorful but the glue-like consistency of the sauce overwhelmed the gnocchi. No subtlety here. I understand that Newport is a captive market as a tourist area but IMO this establishment is passable but not notable Unremarkable food offered at memorable prices. You can do better elsewhere. In retrospect, I noted that most of the favorable reviews came before 2014: sorry to note that things have clearly taken a turn for the worse since that time.
(3)Dav Q.
Good Italian restaurant. Good vibe. Great and friendly customer service. Was a little confused on the byob review from someone but as I asked, that changed about 3 years ago. The establishment now has its own liquor license. Good food, good environment and good overall place. I would come back.
(4)Hunter Y.
This places make good food. However, portions could be a little bigger. There is one great seat that is next to the bay window, from there you can see Thames street.
(3)Sindhu M.
This is a small restaurant in a pretty area of Newport. I must say, it far exceeded my expectations. It has a good vegetarian selection as well and everything we ordered was excellent. I especially loved the Manicotti. They do have a sharing charge for entrees, but they waive it if the pizza is one of the orders....just FYI. I definitely recommend trying this out!
(4)John H.
Great atmosphere, great service, great Italian cuisine! I have a pet peeve about restaurants that ignore the cultural atmosphere of their food and venue. For example, Japanese restaurants that pipe in hip hop... Lucia's immerses themselves, and you, in the Italian experience. The food, from the appetizers to dessert are rich in flavor, served in an atmospheric setting for the ears, eyes, and pallet.
(4)Anamarie G.
I come to Newport quite often and remembered this little gem from my last visit. Despite coming in alone during their peak hour on a Saturday evening, everyone was warm and welcoming which was comforting for my table of one. The farfalle al prosciutto was perfection. I will definitely be back once more before I go!
(4)Matt L.
I'd like to insert some creative narrative intro here to pique my reader's interest, but I don't have one. I was hungry, the options for Mexican food in the middle of March in Newport were slim, and I walked by Lucia. I don't regret choosing to stop in. The place is a cozy environment and the menu presented a number of pretty standard Italian homestyle-cooking options. I settled on the Pollo al Forno, which was a good decision not only on my part but, from what I could gather, visually-speaking, also on the parts of about half the other patrons in the joint. Portions were a bit small for the price, but then again, prices were a bit small for Newport. Great choice for the less-adventurous diner in all of us.
(4)Jacqueline A.
Amazing food and very friendly staff. They didn't have what I wanted on the menu and quickly accommodated me! Loved the hot chocolate although it wasn't 100% authentic it was very yummy. Had the chocolate mousse dessert and I loved it- very chocolatey! Very awesome experience; very highly recommended!
(5)Amina C.
Soooo happy to have ONE slightly nice mom-&pop shop in town with a whole separate vegetarian menu with VEGAN options! Can't wait to come back for more! Try the Boccontini di Seitan!
(5)Barbara M.
Stopped in for lunch during the Newport Winter Festival. While I will say the service was a bit slow, it wasn't really an issue. I ordered the Croissant al Pollo e Pesto, it was really good. Tender chicken, fresh tasting pesto on a buttery croissant. I also ordered the Broccoli al Salto to start, it was good. My boyfriend ordered the same sandwich as well as a slice of pepperoni pizza. He said the pizza was good. It was a crispy thinner crust and didn't look greasy. They do also offer several vegetarian options which is nice.
(4)Laura R.
Absolutely awesome food with bad service. We waited a long time to order and receive our food. Then, 3 of 8 orders were totally wrong so we waited more. When the food came it was awesome though. Spinaci and Manicotti were so good.
(3)Yael R.
Hands down one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to and I've been to Italy and live in NYC. I had to stop myself from hugging the chef. To start, I had the pasta e fagioli soup. Only got a cup. Wish I got a cauldron. They actually almost purée it. There's just a little chunk left. There were notes of rosemary at the end of each bite that floored me. I got the Bocconcini Seitan in Madeira wine sauce for my main dish. It was rich and savory. Just absolutely delicious. All the dishes I ate were vegan.
(5)Nicole M.
Amazing Italian food with excellent service. I drive 40 or so minutes in order to come to Lucia - and every time it is more than worth it. The food here rivals Federal Hill for sure! Best bet is to start with the Spinich Lucia - so good on the bread with Parmesan cheese. My favorite meal personally is the Wild Mushroom Ravioli. Best part is definitely tomatoes!
(5)Sue H.
Pizza's are soooooooooooo good here, we always get it from here when we visit Newport!
(4)Nicole M.
My husband and I were looking for a good pizza but instead found poor service and overpriced food. There were two waitresses/hostesses on duty this afternoon and neither were very helpful or friendly. Rather than ask us whether we wanted our empty glasses refilled, or bring us plates for our pizza or to split the salad, they stood around speaking to each other in their native language. Not only did this seem rude, but gave the sense that they were speaking about customers right in front of us while we could not understand them. Neither cracked a smile and both seemed quite bothered to be there. Our waitress also gave us misinformation about the size of the salads, which turned out to be quite tasty despite not being what we expected. I wish I could say the same for the eggplant pizza, which was very small for the price, and although the crust was good, the eggplant was skimpy and burnt to an almost inedible crisp. I also wish I could tell you the name of our waitress, but she never gave it to us, just as she never gave us a receipt. In fact, the check we received was a handwritten bill with some crude additions scribbled on it. Because my husband has been in the food service business for years, he was surprised at this system because it makes it so easy for staff to take advantage. It would be easy for me to explain the poor service if the place was bustling, but we were one of only two tables occupying the entire establishment. It also would have been great if we left the place feeling full and satisfied, perhaps even with some food to-go, but we barely quenched our appetites for the $50 we spent. And those were lunch prices! I left wishing we had just stopped at the by-the-slice pizza place up the street. We really wanted to return but doubt very much we ever will.
(2)Regina F.
Firstly, quick service is not something that will be found at Lucia, so if you're wanting a bite of spaghetti pronto, or even within a reasonable time period (read under 30 minutes) you'd best go somewhere else. That aside, the food at Lucia is fine. It's standard Italian fare, though it comes in a variety of styles as per the gigantic menu. Regardless if you like your pasta constructed or deconstructed, with red sauce or cream sauces, with meats or vegetarian (seitan) style, Lucia has options for you. The ravioli is fine, but lacks that certain chewiness from veritably homemade pasta. The pizza is more delicious - more authentic...more loving.
(3)Maurice Y.
This is only a review on the pizza which was ordered for pick up. Large pizza with pepperoni. Domino's is far better. In fact, DiGiorno's is better. It wasn't even an attempt at traditional Italian pizza (thinner base, minimal sauce, smaller crust). This was just a really bad American pizza. The other reviews highlighting the rest of the authentic italian food on the menu probably make this difficult to believe. Just stay away from the pizza at any cost.
(1)Catherine W.
Authentic and rich Italian food. Owner is from Vicenza, Italy, where I've spent a few months in; food here taste just like the food in Vicenza. If you want true Italian food then this is the place to go. I've been to this restaurant twice and admire its quiet and romantic ambiance. Friendly staff. A bit on the pricey side but I guess an owner can charge a premium for food that's hardly duplicated here. Parking on Thames may be an issue, however.
(4)Jessica S.
Stopped in for dessert last night. We liked our tiramisu and apple cranberry bread pudding. We also got a latte and cappucino. Cute place, could use some art on the walls. Good service. Will try another time for dinner
(4)Hope A.
My husband and I discovered Lucia's about 12 years ago & we continue to rate her establishment as the best authentic Italian food in the area. We come over the bridges from South Kingstown any chance we get with our 2 children who have grown up asking for Lucia' s as a reward for a good report card or for a special treat. The service is excellent & absolutely consistent-the food is served as soon as it is ready. We have shared this special find with many friends and family and all agree that Lucia's is not your typical huge portion & tons of garlic Italian restaurant. Lucia's dishes are those that you taste & say "I love it but I could never make this at home".(believe me I've tried) The staff is wonderful-pleasant & prompt-true professionals. Cheryl has been our favorite for years, but the entire staff is excellent. I would say if you are coming from the beach with cranky hungry kids, try the Brick Alley down the street. But if you have a little time to sit & relax in a newly decorated Italian restaurant & want experience mouthwatering Italian dishes, great wine selection & homemade desserts not to be passed up , then Lucia's is the best choice in Newport.
(5)Joseph F.
Hands down my absolute favorite for Authentic Italian in Newport ! I admit, my opinion is swayed at the fact that knowing the owners who , if given a chance would also speak with you like you have known them for years ! The food is amazing. High Quality ingredients and everything is from scratch ! IF your Vegetarian or gluten free.... The vegetarian selections are equally as good , if not better than even the tasty meat dishes ! Ask for gluten free pasta..... They use the absolute best brand of Gluten Free pasta... I would know, i get it every time ! They have a minimalistic selection of wines.... and dont let the price deter you.... cheap does not mean crap ! Sit back, partake in conversation like a european and enjoy ! You will not be disappointed !
(5)Tom S.
After a long weekend full of seafood and lots of beer this was a great decision. More so because of the food! Their sauces are amazing - both the cream and marinara. Combined with our meals of pollo alforno and chicken parm this was exactly what we wanted! Would recommend any of the dishes to someone that wants a classic Italian meal. And not classic like the Olive Garden, but classic as in the owner just came back from Venezia with their family recipe.
(5)Tessa M.
We loved this place! My husband is vegan, and Newport is NOT known for being vegan friendly, but this Italian restaurant has an entire vegetarian menu that can easily be made vegan. I got the ravioli stuffed with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes and ricotta. Awesome. My husband got seitan in a garlic wine sauce with mushrooms and fresh broccoli. I've never seen an Italian place serve seitan and we were thrilled for the option. I had puréed butternut squash soup with almonds and orange zest and it was perfect on a chilly night. We also split the Romano beans in a tomato and herb sauce. All the food was very fresh and filling and the waitstaff was very friendly. We split some desserts of chocolate mousse cake and my husband had coconut sorbet (served in a coconut shell which was a nice touch). We went early so we got a great table and the service was fast. It wasn't very busy so I can't speak to the other complaints of slow service. We will definitely go back.
(4)Ronald S.
Lucia popped up on a few vegetarian restaurant searches so I checked out the menu and it was a much more than average veg friendly menu (not just eggplant and pasta!) with seitan on the menu! I ordered the Seitan Saporito - the menu describes this as "Sliced seitan baked with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, red Onion, marinated fresh Tomatoes, olive Tapenade, Asparagus and Basil, drizzled with Balsamic Glaze." and that's exactly what it was - delicious. We also had an order of the Bocconcini di Seitan al Madera (Delicious Seitan Bites sautéed in Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic,Madeira Wine, sautéed Mushrooms and a dash of Cream (optional). Served with Broccoli.) -- another winner. Usually when i go to Italian restaurants it's just an eggplant dish (im not a big fan of the eggplant) or plain pasta with tomato sauce - it was nice to have options, and what we tried was all good. The ambience at Lucia was nice, typical Italian restaurant sort of vibe, staff was nice, service was quick enough. In a town by the sea that is so seafood-oriented it's nice to see something different like that that caters to meat and fish eaters and vegetarians alike. (no amex?)
(3)Brad M.
FABULOUS! Thank you Lucia's for making our first night in Newport so wonderful. The town was packed due to a Patriot's game on TV and we were so grateful to find this charming restaurant on the second floor of a building. They seated us right away and we had excellent service throughout our meal. We absolutely loved both of the dishes that we ordered: Pollo al Forno (rich, hearty and huge) and Sogliola all'Arancio (a wonderful Sole dish). The prices were extremely reasonable and our only regret was that we didn't save room for dessert (the entire tray looked amazing).
(4)Katie W.
Cute, old-fashioned Italian restaurant near the water in Newport. Very reasonable lunch prices compared to other restaurants around the area. We ordered the chicken masala ($15.95) and farfelle bolognese ($11.95). Overall, entrees were tasty. The chicken masala was flavorful, but the portion is a bit small. It came with two pieces of chicken, mushrooms, and spinach. There was no side of pasta. The portion for the bolognese was reasonable (enough for leftovers). The sauce is very meaty and pasta was cooked to al dente.
(3)Josh K.
First off, Lucia Italian Restaurant is no longer BYOB (or maybe just during high tourist season) which is one of the reasons we went here. (That and we couldn't get a spot at the more reputable Mamma Luisa's restaurant). We sort of went to Lucia out of spite seeing as they had a strangely similar name. We had brought a bottle of red bought earlier from the wonderful Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, RI. and were hoping that we could enjoy it with some fine Italian food. According to our server, they just got rid of the BYOB policy a few weeks ago much to the chagrin of their loyal regulars in favor of liquor license that doesn't allow for the BYOB. This tells me 1 of 2 things or both: 1) Times are tough and you need to make more money off selling overpriced bottles of mediocre wine to stay afloat 2) F*** our local patrons and let's make some money off the summer tourists who bring in more revenue anyway. We just ordered water. The waiter came back and said they he negotiated with "the head" and they would allow us to drink our wine at a 25.00 corking fee! 25 bucks, for real! No thanks, we will stick to our water and drink our wine after dinner. As for the actual restaurant... Located up some stairs in an unremarkable and cramped (although some might call it "intimate") space, Lucia Italian restaurant serves Italian classic pasta dishes and pizzas. As for the food, I ordered the Spaghetti ala Pesce (18.99) and the wife got the manicotti. My pasta was oily and garlicky with fresh jumbo shrimp, scallops and green beans. It was tasty enough, although at almost 20 bucks, I would have wanted more than 3 shrimp and 5 pieces of tiny scallops. Nevertheless, I scarfed it down. My wife liked her manicotti, although it looked quite thin and sloppy to me (although I can only go by her saying it was good as I didn't try any). As we were so close to the people sitting next to us, I was able to get a good look at the food they ordered. Their appetizer was the Caprese salad. Although the salad didn't have huge chunks of Buffalo Mozzarella that I think defines the dish, the patrons seemed to enjoy it. They must be big Ensalada de Caprese fans as the pizza they ordered looked like the same thing only on top of crust. I must admit the pizza looked fantastic-the fresh white mozzarella was used here more generously and covered the thinly baked crust, and sitting on top were big basil, oil, and vinegar soaked tomatoes. Although nothing outstanding is happening at Lucia Italian, the restaurant serves its purpose: good basic Italian to those in need of a red sauce and garlic fix.
(3)Gowthami C.
We went to Lucia's because we were very hungry and it was right across the road from where we parked. We got the best seats, looking over the road and the pizza was yummm!!! Will definitely visit next time we are in Newport
(4)Judy L.
My husband and I came here many times before he proposed to me and had our engagement dinner there. Lucia specially had us after lunch hours and before dinner time. This was 2007. Ever since, we have been coming here for dinners whenever we head to Newport annually. We like to come off seasons before the high season. Normally, reservations are highly recommended on weekends if you like the window seats. The food is consistently excellent. The service is impeccable. Lucia comes out to check on guests. Thank you Lucia.
(4)Julia G.
I think 3 and a half stars is (are?:) appropriate here, but I can't do that so I give 3. (taste quality needs to go up a little or the prices could go down a little for a 4-star rating) Lovely decor: pretty Italian paintings and poems on the walls, little copper pots up, ivy plants hanging all over, and a warm feel. They were nice enough to give us the table in the window which was sweet and made us feel important. (we had reserved...) More importantly, we got to feel the sun through the window and look out at all the people walking around the Brick Market in Newport while eating. The vegetable appetizers are delicious.......broccoli al salto - crispy broccoli with olive oil and garlic - and roman fagiol' (vazoul in providencian/neapolitan) - kind of red beans which looked disappointing but tasted AMAZING! and bruschetta (brus-K-etta peeps, not bru-sh-etta please!) with eggplant. All very good. On to the best part (for me!) of being at an Italian place: the pasta. Farfalle con prosciutto, cream, peas, mushrooms. One of my favorite dishes, to the point that I listed it as my last meal on Yelp profile. Kind of disappointing... Not really "al dente" (yes I'm a snob) and too creamy. Lacking in the real good taste I was hoping for. Our main dishes - veal with gorgonzola, and a veal special with spinach side - were similarly mediocre. The veal itself was good, very thin, and delicious. The sauce on my gorgonzola was missing the gorgonzola taste though... We had all this with a nice bottle of Prosecco, and the very sweet and lovely Italian hostess (owner?) still made for a very happy time overall.
(3)Allison M.
EXCELLENT pizza and ambiance. Enjoyed my time here. Excellent.
(5)Mark S.
An extraordinary meal. My son and two of my friends wandered around Newport one night and stumbled across this wonderful restaurant. The waiter was excellent. Attentive, personable and skilled at his craft. He forgot nothing, glasses of water remained unobtrusively filled and plates cleared from the table without fuss and barely noticed. The food: The table started with some tasty bread and olive oil. We soon found the menu contained very wide selection of Italian dishes including a large selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Though I am not a vegetarian, I lean away from meats when possible and was pleased to find a vegetarian gnocchi dish. Named Gnocchi della Tata, is consisted of the gnocchi, nearly perfect potato dumplings in a sauce Tomato, Capers, Olives, Olive Oil, fresh Basil and Parmesan Cheese. It was truly extraordinary. It can be made vegan by simply asking that the Parmesan cheese be left out. My son enjoyed the personal pepperoni pizza and his silence during the meal said all that was needed about how good that was! One of our companions had the Bocconcini di Seitan al Madera. She said it was incredible and remarked on how rare it is to find Seitan on a menu. a Vegan meat substitute, it has a texture similar to veal. Her companion proclaimed his Ravioli al Ragu' Bolognese "incredible". The coffee to finish the meal was freshly brewed and properly strong and the chocolate cake enjoyed acclaim from the two member of our party that ordered it and the mango sorbet was also well received. Top to bottom it was a great evening.
(5)George S.
This has been a long time favorite of mine and I would recommend it highly especially if you are a vegetarian. The owners are from Northern Italy and the food reflects their heritage. The service was very good. On the down side the room is a little dark and can get crowded. Use to BYOB but they now have a wine and beer license.
(4)Adam M.
Nothing fancy, but if you want straight forward pasta dishes, this places works. I had the Pollo al Forno, good baked dish, a lot of cheese. My wife had Fusilli Arrabiata, which was okay, but not much spice. Our friend had the ravioli with meat sauce, too much meat, it looked like a sloppy joe when he was done with the ravioli. It was exactly what my daughter wanted, spaghetti, but no meatballs!!! Kind of a little disappointing.
(3)Samantha C.
This was one of the BEST Italian restaurants I have ever been to. It was simply amazing. When you walk in, the atmosphere is very homey, nothing special about it, but don't let this fool you! We ordered a bruschetta with mozzarella, tomato and basil to start. Before we got our appetizer we received a basket of fresh baked bread that was still warm. It was wonderful! We were so impressed with the bread that we couldn't wait to try the appetizer. The bruschetta comes out and it was served on a garlic bread. It was mouth watering good. The tomatoes were so fresh and juicy! Next came the entrees. I ordered the gnocchi rosa and my boyfriend had the manicotti. All I can say is WOW. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked and the sauce was outstanding, it had a kick of spice that I just couldn't get enough of! The manicotti was fabulous as well. We both ate our entire plate and we would have licked the plates clean if it was socially acceptable!! Any time I visit Newport, this will be my first stop for dinner!
(5)Liz C.
No longer a BYOB. But a very adequate wine list. As a foodie I was skeptical, especially with the poor quality of so many Newport harbor restaurants but it was a very pleasant spot. The service was Great. Our waiter personable, although unobtrusive and knowledgeable about the food and the wine. The food was fresh, portions ample and flavorful. The pasta was cooked right, presented attractively and there was a good selection. My husband and I were quite satisfied with all aspects of this surprising but casual restaurant. We would go here again The decor is old fashioned and misleading for the quality of the food you will get here.
(4)Will B.
The food was outstanding. I had the soup of the day (carrot and ginger with caramelized onion on top) and a caprese salad. Both were delicious. My wife got a pasta dish with mini scallops and shrimp. I'm not a huge fan of seafood but I thought both had good flavor. The only downside is the price. Also, they don't validate parking, so that will cost you an extra $5-$15 in the summer. Overall, this is a great place for a special occasion.
(4)Charles H.
Don't get the chicken dishes
(2)Drew J.
We both had ravioli dishes that were good. Old/family-run atmosphere. Service was friendly but inattentive on a fairly slow night. Would knock about $5 off the prices but I guess that's Newport.
(3)Nancy J.
I would have rated this 4, maybe even 5, stars if it wasn't for the service. The food was certainly delicious. We had gotten the soup of the day, which was something made of pasta and beans, the mushroom ravioli, and a veal dish. The soup had excellent taste and texture, the ravioli had great flavor, and the veal was cooked perfectly. The bread they gave was just alright. It wasn't the best Italian I've had, but still delicious. Also, the serving sizes were smaller than average, so be aware of that before you order. Now, about the service. This is the part that's kind of weird. The waitresses were certainly nice and attentive, but it was the little things that irked me. First off, they didn't assign us a waitress right away, so we had to ask for one. Of course, this is probably because we asked to see the menu first, so that I can understand. Second, they never refilled my water, not once. Even though the waitress was staring right at us with pitcher in hand and saw all the empty glasses on the table. She still walked right past us and refilled an older couple's waters and began a conversation with them. I'd say they provided good service for the older couple, but not us. Perhaps they pick and choose who to provide good service to? My dad finally got some water because he asked for it, but the waitress refilled just his glass and left. And yes, all our glasses were empty or near empty. Finally, we asked for more bread, and the waitress said she just had to heat it in the oven real fast. It neither came "real fast" (because we had to ask for it twice) nor did it seem like it was heated in the oven because the bread was cold and somewhat hardened when we got it. None of these really were bad enough for us to draw their attention to, but unfortunately, I have to dock off a star for the service.
(3)pamela k.
At 8 pm on a Tuesday, we had the place to ourselves! My penne mamma afra was excellent, his pollo something else was very decent. Deliciously light bread, but traded out the butter for olive oil and some herbs or garlic in it would have been welcome. Water was consistently refilled and the service was quick and friendly! That seemed to be everyone's main concern, but ours was spot on, but also we were the only ones there. A delightful meal overall!
(4)John S.
Awesome awesome awesome food. Service is slow.
(3)Veronica R.
I've been coming to Lucia's for many years and find the soups and entree's to be very good, particularly for the fact that she offers vegetarian/vegan options, which remarkably, is not easy to find in Newport. . Mamma Luisa's, which is on lower Thames also offers vegetariano options, and in truth does have a nicer atmosphere than Lucia's, but the food is rather bland, not a hallmark of good Italian food. I really enjoy Lucia's basic menu most of all. Her sauce (gravy as we of Italian heritage have always called it) is very good, as are her soups and seitan dishes. The service is consistently efficient and warm, as is Lucia herself. Those are all the pluses which keep me coming back to Lucia's year after year, recommending it to friends and family, and posting it many years ago on every online outlet for vegans/vegetarians. All of that being stated, I would love to see the decor updated, but understand that is not always feasible in business. And, I must say that I'm always a little underwhelmed by the bread and portions in general, relative to the prices. I will come to Lucia's for many years to come, and overall highly recommend it.
(4)Skye P.
We used to be totally crazy about this place and it's been our go-to place for special occasions as long as we've been together(over a decade), even though Providence is 30 minutes closer and doesn't cost $8 in bridge tolls round trip. Many points for the authentic food and vegetarian menu-one of very few places around where you can eat seitan. We used to be able to park free in the off-season; not so tonight($5 for a rainy October Monday...). The biggest bad surprise was the ceasing of BYOB, after we'd bought and chilled(and traveled with all day...)a nice wine JUST because they were BYOB. This wasn't noted on their website yesterday(supposedly BYOB stopped in April)and the waitress was almost argumentative about that, but then admitted that others have said the same thing. If the wine list was reasonable, or the food was cheaper, I wouldn't mind as much. Plus, there are so few BYOB places left and this was one of the reasons we loved it so much. We stuck with tap water-if we'd gotten drinks, the bill would have been at least $60 for two entrees and one drink each, and I can't say we would have been full at that. The prices are up there for the portion size and I always feel like there is more oil than there needs to be. That was the case tonight with my otherwise-superb seitan Saporito and my husband's meal with spaghetti(agree with others-if they are going to charge several dollars extra for a meal to come with spaghetti, I expect more than a large spoonful!!). I used to be totally wowed, but that was when the meal was less costly because the portions were larger AND the drinks were not marked up because you procured them yourself. I also thought that the oiliness was a fluke or a particular dish but now realize it's widespread. The setting is still very nice and the taste of the food is excellent overall. It's my favorite style of Italian and there aren't many places that I know of where you can get it, especially since it's sort of vegetable-heavy.
(3)James B.
What a great lunch! Service was very good and in a timely fashion. Food was prepared perfectly, sauce they make is amazing, portions were perfect. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in town!
(4)Kathi J.
We went there for New Year's Eve dinner tonight. The prix fixe menu looked lovely, and we were glad to be able to order a la carte from that or the regular menu. I started with a beautiful asparagus soup from the prix fixe; hubby had the pomodoro bruschette, which he enjoyed. My entree was a seafood risotto from the prix fixe - delicious and rich with lots of lobster and two huge shrimp. Hubby had the seafood tagliatelle which he said was great. All around, a great menu! A word about the atmosphere: there was a family with a toddler seated right by the door. The parents were letting their child run all over, bothering other patrons and tripping up (literally) the waitstaff. They also insisted on taking a bunch of photos (with a bright flash) of said child. It really was irritating, and, best we could tell, no one from the staff said anything to them about how their behavior was bothering others. I realize that's a tough thing for a manager to do, but we spent a fair amount there, as did others, and the decorum didn't match the price point because of that one table (they did leave while we were waiting for entrees). That being said, the wait staff was friendly and knowledgable about the menu and drinks, and the quality of the food didn't seem to suffer, even though it was a holiday.
(4)Totts A.
Awesome food! We've been eating here for over 5 years now and love their daily specials. My wife likes raves about the veal. I always get a special because it is consistently amazing!
(5)yourfriendkira w.
We had a delicious meal! We ate at Lucia on a weeknight during vacation. The waitress took our drink order and then returned very quickly for our food order, as we had 2 children with us and it was dinner time. We noticed they sat most couples in another part of the dining room, though all the children were really quiet and well behaved. They accommodated our somewhat odd order (kids like pizza with no cheese, no sauce) and paced the meal nicely (not too slow, not too fast). Our waitress was friendly and sweet. We had two different kinds of bruschetta (good, not surprising) and then a veal dish (delicious) and the gnocchi ala tata which was great too- smooth gnocchi, not too heavy, in a great olive, tomato, caper sauce. I noticed a few vegetarian dishes marked on the menu. Well priced wine list and wines by the glass (new for them, I think). This is the time I have understood yelp the best- for places you would never know about. We are a family of 4 with two challenging eaters and two grownups who are used to good restaurant food. Also, there were locals. Reservations would have been nice but we got there when they opened so it was okay. In the summer or holiday times I'm guessing your need to reserve.
(4)Lindsey T.
My husband and I stopped into Lucia's on a January Saturday night. We were seated immediately. The restaurant was literally empty, so it was a bit awkward when the waitress told us that we had only two tables to pick from since we didn't have reservations. (By the end of our meal, the restaurant was busier, but by no means full). "Luckily" we were seated at a tiny table for two. The table was dressed in a white tablecloth with a little candle. Overall the decor of the restaurant was dated but charming. Ice water was served immediately. I ordered an American style hot chocolate which was amazing topped with whipped cream and a dusting of coco powder. We were given a little basket of bread and butter that was pretty standard, but still warm and welcome on a Newport winter night. As a starter, we ordered the broccoli al salto. It was delicious! A little dish of perfectly cooked olive oil and garlic broccoli. We dusted the broccoli with finely grated Parmesan cheese. Honestly melt in your mouth. My husband ordered a chicken pizza that was large for one person, and he enjoyed it. I ordered a vegetarian manicotti. The pasta and cheese were nicely done, however the sauce on top was heavy. While tasty, the manicotti dish wasn't spectacular, and I will likely order a different dish next time. Overall, Lucia's was a cozy spot for a casual romantic dinner. The hot chocolate was divine, the broccoli al salto simple and delicious. We will be back (but with reservations, not out of necessity, rather just too avoid the awkwardness).
(3)Barb M.
Awesome pasta with bolognese sauce. Had it with bow tie pasta which was cooked perfectly. The only thing that would make this place better is if they made their own fresh pasta, but I am still giving them five stars.
(5)Sue L.
When you first walk in, the smell of stewed tomatoes is just unavoidably awesome. I came on a Saturday night and the place was packed. I ordered a 3 cheese ravioli with meat sauce. Unfortunately, it failed to make a great impression on me. Upon first bite, the strangely gritty/mealy texture totally made my taste buds lose focus on the taste. So I spent the rest of my meal trying to zero in on the flavors. I even gutted a ravioli to get straight to the cheese filling. I could barely taste a thing. So I went for the sauce. It was satisfyingly chunky and had plenty of meat, but it tasted a bit bland. I got hints of the sweet tomato notes, but overall it was lackluster. That, in combination with the disappointing ravioli and with a price tag of $15 for 5 pieces of ravioli, made this dish something that I wanted to forget. Props for courteous service though.
(3)Cary R.
This is a really nice low key restaurant, with an attentive and caring staff and manager and delicious food. We ordered the manicotti in bolognese and the mushroom ravioli. Both were delicious. Portions are right sized, you won't be hungry but don't expect to doggy bag any leftovers. Starter salads were fresh and delicious too.
(4)Jeffery T.
This restaurant was suggested to me by friends that live in Newport. My girlfriend and I ordered different veal dishes as our entree, a mushroom bruschetta as an appetizer, and ravioli with bolognese as a second course. I found all to taste like something you'd get from "Olive Garden". I am a chef, and have cooked a variety of Italian dishes, so I have a different point of view. The bolognese was good, quite tender, but the ravioli were something out of a box - definitely not homemade (and not advertised as such). My veal dish was a bit bland, and really lacking a lot of flavor, though the veal was quite tender. My girlfriend's veal was good to her liking, though she felt it could have been better, as well. I asked for a cappuccino, but was told that the machine was broken, so we settled the bill, and left. The service was good, and the ambience -once the large, obnoxious and loud party of 12 left - was quiet and relaxing.
(3)Katherine T.
Had a very romantic Valentines Day dinner a few days early here. Even though our reservation was for 7:30 we were sat right away when we showed up a half hour early. We were cold and hungry after spending the day walking around. The hostess was Italian which says a lot. Don't forget it's a BYOB restaurant. We picked up a nice Italian white earlier in the day to accompany our meal. The food was delicious. Definitely northern Italian. The soup of the day was amazing. We both had a pasta dish that was full of flavor. For dessert I had a peach sorbet that was phenomenal with a decaf cappuccino. Highly recommended! I know we will be back.
(5)Varun A.
The chicken Marsala was the best, that I had in my entire life. Our server was extremely courteous and I strongly recommend this place.
(5)Robert P.
We had dinner there twice and both nights it was outstanding. It's difficult to find truly good food for a reasonable price. Lucia really delivers in this regard. Of note is that we probably would not have tried this restaurant had we not read a review. It doubles as a pizzeria, with the restaurant upstairs. The exterior doesn't give the impression of the kind of quality food that you get a Lucia's. If you like good Italian food, you'll like Lucia's. I'd rate it with good restaurants in the North End of Boston -- but at a better price.
(5)Mike M.
Great option for a vegetarian. Half of the menu is vegetarian and my wife was very happy with her selections. The carrot and ginger soup was somehow incredible. Ravioli with the meat sauce was very good.
(4)Edward S.
I have been going to Lucia's for years. Great BYOB restaurant in the heart of Newport on Thames Street. Portions are always just right. Not too much, not too little. I usually get either the Veal Aromatica or the Veal Scallapini. Both are EXCELLENT and very flavorful. I always get the feeling that the food her is "authentic" Italian vs. americanized (I.e covered in cheese). Mama herself is usually working the tables, taking reservations, etc and she seems like an authentic Italian lol. Only "knock" against this restaurant is that it is small. This is great on a slower night which makes the atmosphere more romantic. However, it can get a bit tight here on busy nights. I will be back.
(4)Daniel H.
What a find! Excellent pasta dishes and dessert. Would recommend this to anyone looking for authentic Italian at a very reasonable price
(5)Karen L.
Wonderful experience. Delicious food, great service, nice atmosphere. We will definitely visit again!
(5)Kate S.
My husband and I went for dinner during the week (Tuesday night), and the place was still pretty busy. Service was faintly slow, but they were very attentive when present. The gnocchi and the wild mushroom ravioli were both excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. We will definitely be back next time we are in Newport!
(4)Alexis P.
Took us with a late reservation and gave us a prime table. The food was incredible, great service and very friendly staff. Would highly recommend (I'm Italian!) as this is as authentic as it gets. Thorough wine list. Will definitely be back.
(5)Bleu W.
This is a nice little intimate restaurant with food that stays true to its Italian origins. Stays true to European sized portions and does not put the American spin on Italian food. That being said the service is good, the quality of food is good and they are good with food allergy concerns. We would return to Lucia's again because the overall feel and quality is good.
(4)Sean M.
I am an admitted Italophile, having spent the better part of 3 years living and working in Italia, I have deep respect for the culture, the people and especially the cibo e vino. This place is one of our go-to spots and tonight, I had the primo experience once again. We rolled up on them at 9pm; me and "my three sons"(#) with "no reservations" (#). There was a large party of the tipici Newport bourgeoisie and their spawn monopolizing the the staff and attempting to take over the joint. We were first assisted by a waitress and then by the hostess (&). We were seated and ordered before the afore mentioned "gente" sorted out their seating arrangements. What we ate: pappardelle all aragosta, pepproni pizza, cheese ravioli alla bolognese(%), chocolate mousse, tiramisu. I won't bore you with flowery pseudo food critic details, suffice to say not much was left over. * BYOB, that's right top notch Italian and you bring your own vino in downtown Npt!!! * Authentic Northern Italian. They only make a slight nod to American Italian, e.g. pepperoni pizza, which is really Salccice (Sausage or Salumi) in Italia. * Fresh baked loaves, N. Italian style, worth the wait. * Prices are actually very reasonable considering the location, Upper Thames. * Fast courteous service which is *not* authentic Italian, trust me. * Overheard in the main kitchen: Italian, from the sous chefs and other kitchen staff: Spanish. That is very American. # bonus points for working TV show names into the rev. & not be creepy or a pig but both were hawt as well as gallant in our favor. % killer sugo! worth marrying into this family.
(5)JONATHAN S.
Absolutely fantastic. Rivals the best Italian restaurants in bostons north end. The veal dishes melt in your mouth. Very friendly and accommodating.
(5)Brigitte D.
There are a few reasons I am giving Lucia five stars. First and foremost, this was the only restaurant in Newport that would give us a reservation for 12 during the Jazz Festival Weekend. Other restaurants that shall remain nameless were rude on the phone and sounded bothered that we would even attempt to ask for such a thing. One place told us, and I quote, "ABSOLUTELY NOT". Lucia's offered us specific times and welcomed us from the beginning. Secondly, the food was fantastic. Each plate ordered had just the right amount of food, if not a tiny bit more. We ordered a few different kinds of bruschetta for the table to share - it went quickly. Another member of our party and I each ordered an entree, split them in half and shared. We ordered the ravioli alla rucola, a ravioli filled with wild mushroom, and the mahi-mahi special. Both were delicious and we were glad we shared with each other. Not a bad word was spoken about the food by anyone at the table. Even the one on an extremely strict diet found something guilt-free that she enjoyed. Lastly, the restaurant allows you to bring your own wine. With a group of 12, our bill quite easily could have become out of control. There was a liquor store around the corner that we stopped at before arriving for dinner and chose several bottles for our table to share. Our waiter was absolutely adorable and very attentive. Overall, we had a great experience here and it kicked off a fantastic evening.
(5)Matt M.
We were overwhelmed by the amount of "three dollar sign" restaurants that got only 3.5 stars in Newport. If you're looking for great food at a reasonable price, Lucia's is definitely the way to go. Make sure you BYOB :) We both got ravioli: my girlfriend got a wild mushroom ravioli and I got a regular 3 cheese. They were both homemade and both equally delicious. The meat sauce on the cheese ravioli was excellent and you could tell it was home made. The tomatoes in it were delicious. Portion sizes are just right, not too little and not way too much ilke some Italian places give you. The bread was also fantastic and they gave us seconds. Delicious food and really friendly waitstaff make this one a winner.
(4)Julie G.
Pretty restaurant, bad food. The pasta fagiole soup we ordered was ok, although the pasta was starchy and stuck together. The pizza was the worst. I could have gotten better out of my freezer. I think it was a pre-made plain cheese pizza that they threw a few slices of eggplant on without seasoning it or removing the skin. After trying that pizza, I didn't want to try another thing there. If you're looking for Italian in Newport, look elsewhere!
(1)S. P.
We went here for lunch and got an antipasto and a pizza with prosciutto. The antipasto was $12.00 and they were VERY stingy with the stuff they gave you. A very thin piece of prosciutto and a minimum of olives and artuchoke hearts. They gave us 4 small pieces of cheese, some mixed greens and a few pices of assorted meats. . which were sliced very thin. Not a good value in my opinion and I order this at a lot of restaurants. The pizza was thin and tasted OK, but nothing out of the ordinary. They charged us an extra $5.00 for prosciutto on the pizza and put a small piece on each slice . .paper thin slices at that! In all, I was not overly impressed and will dine elsewhere next time I am in Newport. There are a lot of other Italian restaurants there and will choose another next time.
(2)Randall R.
Consistently good. I am a local. Miss the BYOB, but always authentic and well prepared food, friendly and attentive service. Wine list is fine and prices are fair. Broad selection on the menu; especially like veal arrabiata and any of the pasta dishes. Bruschetas are excellent too. The sauteed spinach is delicious. a safe bet for Italian cuisine.
(4)Lee L.
I went to Lucia this past weekend while in Newport. I researched restaurants beforehand since I'm a vegetarian and wanted to eat something substantial other than a salad. I have to say that Lucia caters very well to vegetarians and vegans. I had the Boccocini Seitan (faux meat made from wheat) with mushrooms in a wine sauce. It was absolutely delicious. Probably the best seitan I've ever had and I've gone to all the best vegetarian restaurants in NYC. My dining partner had fried fish with an orange sauce and thought that was delicious as well. The decor is underwhelming, but I'll let it slide since the food was so good!
(4)Jay B.
Food was good, not spectacular especially for the price (better options in the North End in Boston in my opnion). Waitstaff are very nice but the kitchen is SLOW during peak times in the summer.
(3)cynthia c.
We love, love, love this restaurant!!!! LOVE the BYOB policy, but more importantly, the food is consistently amazing. The pastas are some of the best I've had outside of Italy, and the only issue I have is not being able to order every single thing on the diverse menu. Lucia is a gem, and we are thrilled she is doing well, and we are thrilled she is just a stroll away. Visiting newport? Do not miss!!!
(5)Winnie W.
It's a restaurant for local people ! I had pasta which was really good !
(4)Chelsea B.
This place is what all restaurants should strive to be like! It's a great little place, VERY little, probably 10 tables total. The owner greets you as you walk in, it's probably as close as you'll get to dining at an Italian woman's home. The food is out of this world. BEST bruschetta I've ever had. My husband and I went there last July and since we ate here we haven't been able to stop thinking about it. We're going back this year and we can't wait to go to Lucia's! Oh btw, you can BYOB there.
(5)Frank B.
This place is not worth trying. The tables are incredibly close together. The decor isn't. The service is poor, slow, and inattentive. The food is overpriced and does not taste fresh or flavorful. Avoid it.
(1)Tu D.
After walking in the heat & humidity of Newport, it was nice to go into an air-conditioned, clean, fresh restaurant. The food was fast, the water was fresh, and the bread was warm. We had pasta, pizza, and salads. Everyone finished their meals and we were happy campers.
(4)kim r.
bring your own booze...go to 580 wellington plaze. nice selection and great parking to grab your own liquore. you'll need a cold drink!
(3)