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An upscale Italian place that ditched the starched white tablecloths in favor of effortless cool--buzzing, stylish, and somehow still cozy. Let the hosts get you in like family and magically find you a table despite the crowd. All the polish, none of the pretension, with warm lights, louder laughter, and the kind of confidence that says, yes, we're busy--and yes, we've got room for you. They keep it refreshingly simple at the bar: just beer and wine, no cocktails trying to steal the spotlight. A preferred starter - the Mozzarella Fresca arrives like a soft-spoken showstopper--pillowy, impossibly fresh, and gently glistening as if it was made moments ago, it's simple, pristine, and quietly unforgettable. I found the fiocchi to be executed with the kind of precision that deserves a pause of appreciation--delicate little parcels, perfectly tender, and unapologetically elegant. Inside, the pear brings a gentle, honeyed sweetness that never oversteps, just softly rounds each bite with warmth and balance. The lasagna arrives generously sized and impossibly soft, with layers so light and fluffy they almost melt at the fork. It's bathed in a rich, comforting marinara that wraps everything together--bright, savory, and deeply satisfying without weighing the dish down. From the thoughtfully prepared dishes and well-chosen wine to the impressively fast, gracious service, the entire experience felt seamless, satisfying, and effortlessly enjoyable. Cheers!
We chose to do an early dinner at this place and was super excited to try since neither of us had ever been there before. Don't think we will be returning. Our experience felt rushed and unwelcoming. There were only about 1 or 2 other tables that had people at them, so it wasn't busy AT ALL!!! I arrived a little after my sis in law, who had already ordered the Calamari(which was good) as the appetizer. AS SOON as I sat in my chair the waitress comes over and ask what would I like to drink. Waters were already on the table so I stated I was ok with that. I hadn't really even scooted myself up to the table when she asked if we were ready to order. I JUST SAT DOWN!!! I haven't even touched the menu yet. We only had enough time to glance at the menu before she returned, so now I'm having to ask questions about the menu which bought me some more time lol. The bread had an unpleasant taste to it so we did not eat it. I ordered the lobster and crab ravioli, added spinach. My sister in law had the farfalle pasta with salmon. We were so disappointed. The spinach I added definitely had the: unseasoned, it came out of a freezer bag aftertaste, the dish over all was not good even after I added black pepper, Parmesan and red pepper flakes. My sis n law said her bowtie pasta was the only thing that was ok, the salmon was not. We asked to see the dessert menu and nothing looked appealing so we declined as soon as we said we were ok, as my snl was still chewing her food was asked if we were ready for the check and if she wanted a to go box. She replied that she wasn't finished but a to go box could be brought. She put her food in the container and was still eating. The waitress came back and said no rush but asked were we ready for the check. At this point we were like this has to be a joke lol. Time to go.
We had a 5 pm reservation and were promptly seated. A wine list and a menu were left for us to peruse. The wine list is extensive. Our server was very friendly and helpful. I settled on a glass of wine and true to authentic Italian, it was a very small glass. I settled on the lasagna for my entree. They served Italian bread and olive oil for the table. The bread was fresh. The lasagna arrived timely and was nice and hot. Flavors were good, although very little, if any protein. I ate 85% of it, even though it was fairly large. All in all, a nice place and I would return.
Caffe Luna is one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. The food, service, atmosphere, and wine are always phenomenal. My husband and I had our wedding here years ago so we try to always come for our anniversary. Caffe Luna is the perfect place for dinner or your next event. All the food is very reasonable priced, especially considering the portion you get for the entrees! I don't go as often as I want because the drive is a bit far, but every trip is special! This trip we had: Calamari Fritti: a classic. Delicious as always. Mozzarella Fresca: light, and the the tomato was fresh and tasty. I had the Tortelli Crostacci: I'll have trouble trying something else the next time I come here, the sauce was creamy and so delicious! The stuffed pasta was fresh, well seasoned, and perfectly cooked. My husband had Linguini Pescatore: I tried a bite and it was delicious! He loved it. Delicious seafood flavor. Wine: Mediterra - Poggio al Tesoro. A delicious red blend!
Atmosphere - OK. The restaurant was hosting an event in a separate (larger) room, so area that is open to the public was pretty small and the tables placed very close to one another. Service - Good. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Food - Good. I ordered a caprese salad and lasagna. The portion size of both was generous. The lasagna was served hot and the sauce was good. I like a little more beef and cheese with lasagna, but overall it was pretty good. After a couple of bites of the caprese salad I knew that there was something wrong with the cheese. Shortly after returning the caprese the server informed me that another table returned their caprese. When the chef checked it the chef recognized that the cheese was spoiled and that the management would be comping our table with a dessert. Given that I might incur an intestinal issue, I would have thought that the consideration fell short of what I thought reasonable, but I chose to be gracious. Overall Value - Good.
Excellent meal as usual at Caffe Luna, with large portions and lots of menu variety. The Caprese salad was tasty and mozzarella fresh. The NY strip was medium rare and two sides left me pretty much stuffed. The place was full like normal, even on a weeknight. I appreciate a non-pretentious authentic meal in downtown like the next guy, and I'll return to Luna as soon as possible.
We visited during restaurant week without a reservation and they were kind enough to accommodate us. However, after an hour and half, the manager politely asked us to leave when we were done with our food. We ordered two different meals, however, the sauce only looked slightly different. The plating was poor and it didn't look very appetizing, but it was edible. The tortellini crostacci was a combination of different seafood, but it tasted like imitation crab meat. The Fiocchi was very sweet and the pear was overpowering the dish. The dessert looked like they threw it on the plate and wasn't very moist.
Visited for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week and had a great dinner! Despite a rehearsal dinner occurring at the same time, service was quick and attentive and the private room meant that the restaurant wasn't too loud. Wine selection is always surprisingly large and at fair prices. The rigatoni special was delicious, as was the portobello appetizer. The penne cappesante was good, but it's definitely not reheat-able because of the strong oceanic flavor from the scallops. I'd love to see the starter bread toasted--that would have been the cherry on top of our great dinner experience.
I have to give Caffe Luna 5 stars for stellar service, quality Italian cuisine, & reasonable prices in downtown Raleigh. Situated in a grand historic building, they offer deals such as a $17.95 prix fixe menu on weeknights. It includes a starter, lunch size portion of pasta (trust me it's plenty) & a tasty dessert. I've eaten here over 20 times and the quaint owner is always there checking up on diners. I love the chicken rigatoni with spinach and the sausage & broccoli oriechette. They also have a caprese starter that hits the spot. I have also been to several special events in their private rooms and we see a ton of wedding receptions here! TIP: the floor to ceiling windows & tight quarters can make it hot here in the summer! read more
3 years ago
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5 years ago
Beyond great service, overall very very pleased with my experience perfect place to celebrate with a friend, dinner with family or enjoy romantic date. Couldn't be more glad with my experience. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
This by far is NOW one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Raleigh. My mom and I dined here for Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week. Three course meal for $20 couldn't beat it. Outside of restaurant week the prices here are VERY reasonable. I started with the Insalata Di Casare (Caesar Salad) very delicious and full of flavor. Pre-tossed with fresh croutons (yes, that's important lol) 2nd Course: Linguni Scampi- SIMPLY DELISH && light 3rd Course: Mousse Di Cioccolato - light dessert but just enough flavor throughout. Not too sweet, very good !!! Overall great first experience here. The owner is very nice and very personable. Service was on point from beginning to end. With NO wait times. Only recommendation is that you make reservations because the place fills up QUICK. Will definitely be returning for more read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
If you're craving a carbolicious Italian dinner with good wine, then Caffe Luna is the place for you! I visited this restaurant for the first time with my family and a good friend visiting from out of town. We saw pictures of this place on Yelp and were immediately sold. I made a reservation and when we arrived, we were promptly seated. I will praise this restaurant over and over again for their attention to service and detail. Everything was perfect except for my self esteem following that full blown food coma meal. When I'm in the mood for some great Italian in downtown Raleigh, I will surely visit again! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Okay so I haven't heard much about Caffe Luna besides it being a nice venue to host weddings, and I kind of know why now. Caffe Luna is good, I'll say that. The service was excellent (minus the hostess who seemed a bit distracted). Our waitress was attentive but not tooooo attentive. The restaurant was a bit loud but the tables were intimate and I liked the decor. We ordered a bottle of merlot and started with the mozzarela fresca, which was decent. Not a whole lot of flavor. We ordered the Taglioline del Golfo and the Penne Capesante, as well as the Insalata del Pastore. Everything was ~alright~. Nothing special. The Taglioline was probably the best but it didn't wow me. The penne and salad were very average. We ended the meal with glasses of port, which were probably the highlight of the meal since port is a bit hard to find at restaurants in the triangle. I think this location could definitely do better. Raise prices and go for higher-quality, more unique ingredients. I would love to see a 5-star, amazing Italian restaurant in downtown Raleigh and I still can't seem to find one. Caffe Luna has the ambiance and service for it, but not the food. I'd recommend going here for a business meal perhaps. Or a date night. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Cute spot, great service, but the food just didn't blow me away. I had the Fantasia di mare. I came here for this dish, and left wanting. The pasta was overcooked and the grouper tasted fishier than it ought to, and grouper is a pretty mild fish. The sauce in this pasta was not a sauce. It was like a broth consistency with a lot of oil. This would have been fine if the flavors and broth/tomato/oil not-sauce married well, but like I said I was left wanting. Generous amount of shrimp though. My sister got the lasagna, which I liked better than my pasta dish. It was good, standard lasagna. read more
4 years ago
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9 years ago
Caffe Luna never disappoints. It's a classic and we've been so many times over the years. Tonight we started with a Caesar salad and it was perfect. There's nothing worse than getting a salad with a *splash* of dressing and having to request more. They knew better and the Caesar came with plenty of dressing. The bread was super fresh too! For our main meals we had the ravioli and the rigatoni - both were delicious! The only negative tonight was that they were a little backed up in the kitchen so it took a little longer to get our food- though it was a Friday night at 7pm downtown so pretty understandable. However, to make up for the slight wait they comp'd our salad appetizer, which was really kind and appreciated! The service is always really good. The owner/manager is almost always walking around and checking in on tables each time we've been which I always find very nice to see. He's such a nice man and obviously takes a lot of pride in the restaurant's success. We will be back! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
A very, very, nice surprise. An Italian restaurant that warmed our hearts and tummies. Wonderful staff, fantastic food, on me oh my, the prices are out of this world. Wonderful spot for family or date night. The only downside is the parking. read more
9 years ago
This place was okay somewhere I probably wouldn't go back again. The ambience was great it was right in downtown when you walked in it was like going into a old southern plantation home. Large beautiful columns, beautiful wooden doors that resembled something from a church, very romantic and intimate. The hospitality was like none other. The company I work for literally booked the dinner the night before. The staff was so friendly they even made a flyer menu cater to our company with our company's logo and name. Or company paid for each plate so they brought out a special menu that we were able to choose from. They brought out several hors d'oeuvres which included salami and olives, smoked mozzarella with artichokes, salmon and a creamed cucumbers. The second course what are our salads. They were okay nothing special just mixed greens with some cherry tomatoes and a very small drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette nothing that really wowed me. The dinner portion was kind of disappointing we received penne chicken in a white wine sauce that was very dry and Bland. The ravioli with spinach tasted like something from a Chef Boyardee can. And they weren't able to accommodate you very well I asked for the penne without chicken but mentioned the chef had already prepared a large batch and could not make without chicken. I had to drown the dinner and parmesan cheese just to make it taste better as well as salt. The best course of the entire meal was the desert a moose of chocolate cake. That was very good. Other than that probably not somewhere I would tell anyone to try. read more
I came here with another couple for restaurant week. It was busy and the acoustics aren't great, but we had amazing service. The server kept refilling our waters and our bread with olive oil. Another gentleman came over and talked with us and asked us if everything was OK. He also offered to take a picture of us, which was great. My husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner here seven years ago. The quality of food was great, the servers were on top of everything, and the room was very comfortable. Some of their pasta is homemade. For restaurant week, I had a very well marinated breast of chicken with diced potatoes and crispy diced asparagus. It also came with a tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad and cheesecake for dessert. All for $21. Not a bad deal at all! Since my husband is dairy free, they accommodated him with a dairy free dessert since the other dessert choice was a chocolate mousse cake. We always have a great experience here. The prices are reasonable and the ambience is romantic. read more
4 years ago
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8 years ago
Had a hankering for a cold appetizer (bruschetta on the brain) and a cocktail. Decided to try Cafe Luna for the first time. ENVIRONMENT: get corner location and conformable fancy interior (there was a formal wedding reception being held there for context) we sat in the back patio. The cool jazz/50s music from Watts and Ward downstairs made for a great backdrop - I did not enjoy the heavy foot traffic of the BOH staff on the patio. SERVICE: attentive, over heard the personalities of other servers and they all seemed delightful. FOOD/DRINK: no liquor sales, incredibly disappointing because that's exactly what I wanted. Free bread/oil: cold, soft bread, would make a great sandwich or French toast but no flavor on its own. Oil tasted like nothing, was definitely underwhelming. Piatto Misto: basically charcuterie light- the meat and pecorino cheese were delightful but I would have loved some crunchy bread/crackers, grapes, or jelly. Mozzarella Fresca: tasted like store bought motz and Roma tomatoes. Skip this. OVERALL: Apps were severely underwhelming but I'm still intrigued to go back for entrees solely based on what I saw pass to other tables. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
Caffé Luna is fantastic every time I visit. The restaurant itself is very cute and has great ambiance. The owner is always there greeting people and asking people how their meal is, which shows how much he cares. The food is delicious and consistent and they have a great selection. I highly recommend the calamari because it's the best I've ever had at any restaurant. The prices are comparable to other Italian restaurants that have less ambiance or flavor. We come here for special occasions or just for a good dinner. Highly highly recommended. read more
5 years ago
Very inviting, with really nice oil paintings of Italy gracing the walls, and a friendly staff welcomed us as we walked in. The owner, Parker, greeted us and checked on all of the tables conversing with the patrons. Most importantly the food was excellent! I had Linguine Pescatore - Calamari, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams and a Scallop Sauté in Olive Oil and Tomato. This was worthy of serving at an Italian Christmas Eve dinner for the Seven Fishes! My husband had Farfalle al Salmone - Bowtie Pasta with Fresh Salmon in a Pink Sauce he loved. Portions were very generous and we chose a dessert I don't know how to spell, but it was a ball of ice cream layered with chocolate and vanilla with cherries, walnuts and rolled in chocolate cookie crumbs topped with whipped cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce and a cherry. We each took home 1/2 of our dinners and 1/2 of the dessert which was more than enough for four people. We skipped salads and antipastos but the menu was diverse and I want to go back and try more of the entrees and desserts and further explore the offerings. The prices were very reasonable, the quality and presentation perfect rendering this restaurant a "must try" and one we will return to. read more
7 years ago
Absolutely incredible meal. Walked into great service and an owner who walks around and talks to patrons. I ordered the special of the day which started with an appetizer for one which included mozzarella tomatoes basil and amazing olive oil followed up with my second course which was chicken Parmesan and penne pasta. The chicken Parm was absolutely amazing and the breast was so tender I could cut it with a butter knife. Don't even get me started on the desert I really wanted a second piece. The daily special was perfect for one couldn't ask for better highly recommend this place read more
If you're reading this, I hope it's not too late... If you've already ordered, you still have time to call your server back and correct the egregious mistake you probably made. Even if your food has already come, you should really consider just boxing that up and placing another order. Because there's only one thing to get at Caffe Luna that will change your life (for the better), and that's the Tortelli Crostacci. Unfortunately for me, I did not order this. My girlfriend did. There are really few things worse than having dinner envy, and I had a baddddd case of it as soon as I took a bite of her pasta deliciously stuffed with sweet crab meat, lobster and prawns, smothered in cream sauce. I got the Taglierini del Golfo, fresh pasta with peas, shrimp and red peppers, also in cream sauce. This was very good. But one bite of her Tortelli and I knew I had messed up. Learn from me. Don't have dinner envy. Order Tortelli Crostacci, prepare your utensils and bask in your pasta victory. The decor and atmosphere of Luna were also fantastic. Very warm and friendly vibes, a few big tables with friends celebrating, smaller tables with couples on dates, families having a night out, really the whole gambit of clientele. Love all the windows facing out onto Hargett St, adds a cool element to people watch and see the city going by outside. P.S. We also got the stuffed portobello mushroom appetizer, which was fantastic. Excellent tomato sauce to sponge up with complementary bread (they even gave us extra tomato sauce because we were clearly going bananas over the stuff). Would highly recommend. read more
12 years ago
I've been trying to dine at Caffe Luna a handful of times now, but it's just never worked out. Until now. Mom and I went during Triangle Restaurant Week. Prior to arriving, we easily made a reservation on Open Table and our table was ready for us right away. What a wonderful Saturday night dinner! $20 fixed menu included an appetizer or salad and entree. Fresh bread and olive oil came out for us to snack on. Mom and I each had the Insalata del Pastore or Mixed Green Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts. It was fresh and absolutely delicious although it came with tomatoes which I don't care for so I gladly passed those on to her plate. We wrestled over what to order for our entrees, but ultimately got one of each of the items and then traded tastes. I had the Jumbo Stuffed Shells - with Ground Beef, Spinach, Sweet Italian Sausage, Parmesan, Ricotta & Mozzarella Cheeses. My God, I ate too fast because it was all just so good! Mom had the Salmone alla Luna - Fresh Atlantic Salmon Poached in White Wine with Lemon. To top it off, her dish was finished in a Creamy Mustard Sauce with the perfect texture. I don't recall which wines we had, but we each had a glass of wine. Both of them were wonderful and our water glasses were never neglected. The owner (or manager?) stopped by to check on us and was quite a gentleman. Service was superb from the hostess greeting to the gentleman who brought us water, our server's attention, and the food runner who made sure we had just what we needed. Our small table in the front window gave us a great view to Hargett St. and the interior of the restaurant was quite elegant. As we left, we enjoyed reading the article on the wall in the entryway about the history of the restaurant. Caffe Luna is surely a lovely little gem in downtown Raleigh that I intend on visiting again! read more
More info about Caffe Luna
136 E Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
Fayetteville Street
Directions
(919) 832-6090
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http://www.cafeluna.com
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