I went into Caffe Lucca hearing mixed reviews. As soon as you walk in, you feel like you're in a cute little Italian town. I was obsessed with the vibes of the place! I started out with a dirty martini and eventually transitioned to a French wine. Both were good! They also brought out an artichoke olive veggie dip with lavash to start, which was nothing crazy. Then we ordered the Tradizione as an appetizer. The risotto balls were a little small, and they could have had a bit more flavor. For our entrees, we got the Al Ragu Della Nonna Siciliane, which was good but nothing out of this world. My main was the Timballo Alla Vodka, and I was so surprised by this pairing! The chicken marsala sauce was a tad too sweet, but I loved it with the vodka rigatoni on top. The pasta was a little overcooked, but the flavor was definitely there. I never would have thought to pair these together! The service was a tad slow, but other than that, we really enjoyed our experience. My friend, who studied abroad in Italy, enjoyed the food as well. I would love to come back to try more things on the menu, but I would definitely order the Timballo Alla Vodka again! read more

Caffe Lucca - Tradizione- risotto balls - Mediterranean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I tried Caffe Lucca recently as it just opened up in the Knox/Henderson area and the experience did not disappoint. They offer a Sicilian style Italian menu with a great selection for any and all diners' palettes. For starters we tried the Carte di Nusica e Crudite: Ceci Hummus, Caponata-Ganoush, Olive, Artichoke, Anchovy Tapenade, and Poblano-Muhammara served with crispy thin pita-like chips. It was ok, but a bit lacking in flavor overall. Main dishes: We ordered the Al Ragu Della Nonna Siciliane- consisted of Berkshire Pork slow simmered with plum tomato, wild Sicilian oregano, fennel seed and fresh bay leaves. Additionally we also ordered the Saffron - La Bomba Rice, which was a risotto style scampi with piselli, calabacita, parmigiana, and butter/herbs. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these pasta dishes, but my favorite was the risotto as it was very light and refreshing and reminded me of a Spanish paella with the shrimp and rice sautéed together. For drinks I ordered the Ruby Red Spritz which was just alright as a cocktail, but I expected it be more refreshing and the flavor to be more punchy. Also the color was very faint pink, not red at all. In general, I recommend trying this place out as the atmosphere is very cozy and intimate and the menu items are very flavorful for the most part. read more

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Had dinner here last night with a group of 7, and honestly, this place nailed the assignment. The restaurant is gorgeous, think French Riviera vibes with comfortable seating and those big, family-style tables that actually make sharing feel natural (and not like a sport). We took "sharing is caring" personally and against all odds ordered nearly everything on the menu. Because if you're going to do it, you might as well do it loudly. The food (a love letter, basically) Standouts included the roasted artichokes they were so tender they practically melted in your mouth. Also: the fennel and apple salad was the perfect balance of sweet and sour with a crisp, crunchy texture that kept everything feeling fresh. We fell in love with the ravioli on the first bite. The sauce was tangy with just a hint of cinnamon, and it gave off a vibe that felt a little Greek-inspired in the best, "wait, what is this magic?" kind of way. The Chicken Marsala A classic for a reason: it was so delicious. We ordered a second round for the table, and the chicken was unbelievably tender like it had taken a spa day. But the best bite of the night? No question: the 6oz Rosewood steak. Probably one of the best steaks I've ever eaten. It was so tender it was basically meat butter the kind of steak that makes you stop talking halfway through because words are too slow. Dessert that deserves its own paragraph Dessert was house-made gelato, and the pistachio flavor was among the best I've ever had so good it competes with what you'd expect from gelato made in Italy (with fewer passport checks). Cocktails: creative, dangerous, and delicious The cocktails are genuinely creative and dangerously good. We all ordered the prickly pear ranch water with Aguasol tequila, and it was an absolute winner bright, refreshing, and dangerously easy to keep ordering. Service + hospitality The food and drinks were incredible, but the service was just as impressive attentive without hovering, friendly without being forced, and perfectly on point for a group of seven people who clearly don't believe in restraint. One extra highlight: it was such a nice surprise to see co-owner Jason Garrett in the house, mingling with guests and welcoming everyone like you'd been invited to dinner at his home. That kind of personal hospitality is rare--and memorable in the best way. Final verdict This restaurant is truly perfect in every way, from the ambiance to the flavors to the hospitality. It was a great dinner experience and a genuinely delightful surprise. read more

From the moment you arrive, it really does feel like a sophisticated, vibrant, dining experience. The interior is stunning, and the ceiling is full of hanging dried flowers, lemon trees and Sicilian touches. Service was wonderful from start to finish, extremely impressed with the knowledgeable staff and kind, attentive attitude. Food was delicious and unique, had a pasta with hints on corn and pork. Cocktails are stunning. A must try! Any wait for it to cool down for patio dinner here. read more

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Had an absolute great dinner at Caffe Lucca. From our excellent server, David, who helped us make all the decisions from our appetizers to our entrées to dessert to the atmosphere itself. Everything was perfect. For the food, we got the Arancini as well as the Greca salad. Both were great shared dishes for three people. We then moved onto our entrées, which were all recommended by David and they were great. We ended the night with the three flavors of gelato. Would highly recommend this restaurant and definitely intend to go back with friends! read more

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Beautiful restaurant and excellent food! I've been here a number of times and the service and food have always been consistent. Love the ambiance! It's loud and lively so don't expect to have intimate conversations with your date here. Some of my faves are the risotto balls app, ragu pasta and steak. So good. Highly recommend ordering a variety to share family style! read more

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Food was good can't really go wrong with pasta the waiter was nice ambiance was there the bathroom was kinda underwhelming but what can you do read more

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A standout and welcomed addition to the sea of Uptown. Parking blows because of the skyscraper construction next door, but this place is worth circling for a spot. It's Sicilian meets Uptown. A great work lunch spot, date night, or gather your girls and pretend like you have busy jobs (but you don't) and have too much white wine and pasta. Small groups are perfect but don't expect to be comfortable with a party of 12. Everything was delicious. I hear reservations are hard to come by, but we were sat promptly at noon on a Tuesday. Service was top notch. Secretly, I hope no one reads this review and doesn't ruin my new favorite spot with douchery. Stay a gem, Lucca! I'll be back! read more

So excited to try this new restaurant in the neighborhood! Being that it was only their second night open, there are kinks to work out, which is totally understandable. The food was really good. We started with the risotto balls, then shared the pork ragù and chicken. The staff were attentive and friendly. Bring patience, it's worth it. read more

Caffe Lucca was just ok. Really cute atmosphere, but the food and drinks didn't impress us. Small portions and not a lot of flavor. read more

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Excellent cocktails, amazing service, some of the best food and you might just meet Jason Garrett! read more

Caffe Lucca - Colorful menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Caffe Lucca was a wonderful experience! I love the bright/ warm decor that seemed very welcoming. I tried the steak and a Caesar salad, both which were very good! Don't forget to save room for dessert! The gelato was out of this world! Will be back soon!! read more

Really great energy as soon as you enter and it only gets better with each encounter and every bite. The decor is charming with very comfortable seating. Even though the dining room was full, it never felt crowded. The service was proficient without being pretentious. Oh, and the food - superb! It is our new favorite spot in Dallas. read more

Caffe Lucca - Mediterranean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I have been here three times since it opened about 2-3 months ago. THE Good: True good not great Italian. All three dinners were overheated and took time to cool. Enjoyed the Tradizione and the Snapper Pesce. Overall, 3-4-star food. 5-star complementary artichoke appetizer. Intimate stylish decor. Door staff greeters remembered me and are very welcoming. THE BAD: Menu is has significant number of words in Italian and is difficult to follow. Menu is small print, small form and slightly grease. Two top tables face the wall and are within 24 inches of the adjoining table. Very uncomfortable when trying to eat and have a conversation. The Al Pesto Trapanese was bland and was prepared very quickly. Ate at the bar twice. The "short" bartender was in everybody's business. He seems to be trying to elevate his social life and doesn't understand his role is to serve clients not comment on there food choice or get into everyone's business. Who hired this tool? CONCLUSION: You get to meet Jason Garret a great guy that likely knows little about the restaurant business. Rearrange the two top tables or expand into the place next door, enlarge the menu font, clean it after each use and use more English. Hire a QC chef to check food before it is served, especially temperature and taste test on ocassion. Finally fire the short bartender he is not retrainable. I really want to like this place it is convenient for me and has a good vibe. Please make a few improvements read more

Came here for dinner and I'd go back! It's a cute little restaurant. The "ruby red spritz" is SO GOOD, it's like a mix between Hugo spritz and aperol spritz but with a little bit of grapefruit. I ordered the "Al ragu della nonna siciliane" and it was 10/10. I would get the same order again and again. Service was good and they stayed on top of filling waters. Everyone was friendly! read more

Caffe Lucca - Indoor tables - Mediterranean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Drinks were amazing. Service was okay. Food was okay; the risotto was pretty bland, I wouldn't recommend the risotto at all. No parking. Ambiance and interior is nice read more

Loved it! Food was delicious and Service was great! Pretty resturant, Nice Ambiance great location.. We had the Grilled Red Snapper with the Lemmon Butter Sauce and the Timbale alla Vodka with Chicken Marsala.. Wonderful...Already looking forward to our next visit! JWS read more

Outstanding restaurant! Wonderful atmosphere, great food, and incredible service. The bar area staff was awesome! They made our experience special more than anything. Great group of guys. Highly attentive, knowledgeable, kind, professional and funny! We truly enjoyed them. We sat at the bar because we didn't have reservations but glad we did. There is typically plenty of room at the bar if you show up right as they open at 5pm. However I highly recommend getting reservations for any of the tables in the dining area and the booth seats. The booth seats are lovely an great for couples or people who want to chat away from the dining crowd. As far as food, everything was delicious but the ragu pasta dish stood out drastically. The ragu pasta was the absolutely best item on the menu and it is made fresh pasta. You can do other pasta arrangements/ingrentients from the menu using the same noodle is what we were told as this noodle is truly the best. We will go back. read more

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Stopped in for lunch with a girlfriend and enjoyed a bottle of Minuty Blanc that paired perfectly with our servers suggestions! We shared several items, starting with the Greca Salad. The artichokes al Forno are a must have! So delicious and is the heart of the artichokes. Also had the Al Pesto Trapanese pasta that was light and flavorful. Finished with a trio of house made gelatos - they were all good, but pistachio was our favorite read more

We visited Caffe Lucca in Dallas after hearing mixed reviews about the food. Since I'm local, I wanted to see for myself. The restaurant absolutely shines when it comes to atmosphere, decor, and service -- all were 10/10. The space is beautiful, inviting, and the staff was attentive and professional. The concept and ambiance are exactly what you'd hope for from a Sicilian-inspired restaurant. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the rest of the experience. My Pasta Puttanesca was drenched in oil, to the point that it overwhelmed the dish. The risotto was disappointingly bland and lacked depth of flavor. Based on other reviews I'd read beforehand, I knew food quality had been a recurring concern, and sadly my experience confirmed those complaints. It's frustrating because everything else is done so well. The restaurant has all the ingredients for a great dining destination, but the kitchen needs some serious adjustments. If they can improve the food, this place could be exceptional. Until then, I'd return for the atmosphere and service, but not necessarily for the meal. Overall: 3/5 stars -- Beautiful restaurant, excellent service, disappointing food. The chef needs to step up his game. read more

Great food. We had the snapper with the lemon butter sauce. It was delicious. We also had the timbale alla vodka with chicken Marsala . Cute restaurant great food. Give it a try. read more

Caffe Lucca - Mediterranean Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Beautiful restaurant, incredible food, and friendly staff. There's nothing like it in the city.

Terrible. And I really wanted to like it. They were out of the wine we ordered so we ended up getting a more expensive bottle. Whatever. No bread and butter. Only crackers and olives /artichokes. Weird menu. The rigatoni dish was definitely not anything I would order again. Decor inside was droopy lemon trees and I imagine in a few weeks it will be dusty droopy lemon trees. No parking. Service was meh. The bench seating was low. Lots of better places to dine in Dallas. read more

Very much recommended - one of the newer restaurants in Dallas. Dined at Lucca tonight it was a very low key night with great food, exceptional service with Philipe as our server. cant go wrong with this spot! read more

I tried the pasta special which was authentic and delicious. I would highly recommend and will be back.

food was SO good. I highly recommend checking this place out. The pasta was fresh and also great portions

Great food, great location and definitely worth adding it to the list of places to go!!!

The ownership's strategy is pretty ingenious -- placing the restaurant right next to an affluent neighborhood like Highland Park is a smart move for drawing in a steady crowd of locals who want a convenient Italian spot nearby. Location-wise, it's a winner. That said, the Italian food was just... meh. For a place tied to experienced restaurateurs, I expected bolder flavors and more authentic execution. The pastas and entrees didn't stand out, and overall it felt average rather than memorable. Nothing was bad, but nothing wowed me either. read more

The hype of Caffe Lucca is extremely overrated. Maybe it's because of the owner. The restaurant is loud - very loud. The food is underwhelming. Ordered the eggplant stack and the eggplant was so thin it was almost not existent. Add the breadcrumbs and deep fry and it just tasted like oil. Also ordered the "special" which was "homemade" ravioli. The ravioli had little to no stuffing. It looked like the chef took a butter knife and swiped a coat of ricotta on the noodles. Overall the restaurant has marginal food and a migraine inducing atmosphere. Look for another place to eat, there are certainly plenty to choose from in the area. read more

Super overpriced for not great food unfortunately :/ really wanted to like this place!! Their ice cream was so good though so stars for that!! read more