Really good food and fun drinks. The service was really good, only complaint I would have is the tables are very close together. But we had a great experience and would definitely go back. I highly recommend the lamb. read more

This restaurant is a "must visit", "must eat" and "must experience". Quality is probably one of their main priorities - from the hostess, to the waitress, until, of course, the food. I was not expecting a very authentic Italian pizza, first and second course and deserts. I had a blast with the food & service! I enjoyed so much that I had to return in the following day to ear more (and different) plates. Getting a "front seat" at the kitchen table was like a VIP experience and would never be my first option, however, it was definitely worthy! The pizzaiolo even gave my son some pizza flour for him to "play" while we were watching everything. This is definitely a place that Im returning and sharing with friends, but next time Im booking in advance, you are very fortunate if you get a table! read more

After hearing raves about this place I finally made it in for dinner. My husband treated me and my mother for a Mother's Day dinner. The first thing you notice is the clean, rustic interior. The staff is friendly, most are a little reserved but very laid back and it fits the mood of the place. The building is newly renovated and crisply painted and cute rustic/country decor. The menu: antipasto, pizza, pasta and main dishes. We started off with the cauliflower and arancini. The arancini was amazing. The marinara sauce is amazing, I swear my nonna made it! The cauliflower was a quarter head of cauliflower, cooked on the open wood burning stove, drizzled with hot oil, pistachio, seasonings and a heavy drizzle of very delicious olive oil Pizza; we got the white pizza with crema, lemons and smoked mozzarella. The crust on the pizza is pure perfection, crisp, a tad oily and pungent from the cheese. Lemon essence is through out and tops it all off. Fried pork topped with arugula was the meat special of the night, a boneless, huge, piece of pork. Breaded, friend and served with a fresh arugula salad. Lemon risotto, this was my favorite thing of the evening. Rice was perfectly cooked, creamy, a tad al dente, lemon essence through out and a slight hint of beautiful grana Padano Just a little overpriced for what you're getting read more

This is a beautiful place with excellent food and top notch service. My Dad and I went here for dinner today and it was our first time here. We both loved everything we got. We started off by splitting the wood-fired artichokes as an appetizer. They're a little tricky to figure out at first but once you do, they are delicious. Then we split the Tuscan kale salad which was easily the best salad I've had. Everything worked together so perfectly. The sweetness was a surprise but a surprise that I was happy to receive. For my entree I got the risotto. This was maybe my third time having risotto and I haven't liked it the other times. I am now a fan of risotto. The spring onions are the main flavor which works very well with the hint of lemon. My Dad got the wood-fired beef which was a short rib with spinach and potatoes. The portion size was about twice of what he was expecting, seeing as most places like this sort of skimp on the size of the meat dishes. He loved every bite. For dessert I had the sorbetto which was very good and not very filling (which is great because I was stuffed.) My Dad got the espresso with gelato which he loved as well. We each will happily return ASAP. Side note: I am vegan so the four dishes that I had were made with modifications to allow me to have them. For other vegans looking to eat here, you can get any of the pasta dishes with gluten free pasta (which is also vegan) and almost anything else on the menu if you take off the cheese. I was pleasantly surprised at all of the choices I had at such a meat and cheese heavy place. read more

Loved everything! Kale salad, pizza wine and dessert were excellent, service impeccable and prices decent. I recommend!

Don't go here if you want over priced food on tiny portions. I got the pasta thinking I'd get a hearty portion. Nope, I literally got 10 bite sized ravioli. I left hungrier than when I came in. Only positive was the taste of the food. It was very good. read more

Had the most amazing meal here! Came to town for a short weekend getaway and had to try this restaurant after reading all the rave reviews. Started with the wood grilled beef tongue appetizer, I think that was one of the best things I ever ate! Had the tagliatelle bolognese for my meal, which was incredible. Hubs got the gnocchi a la nonna which he loved. We will certainly be back next time we are in town! read more

Phenomenal service that I could only dream every business has and should aspire to. I could not make a friend's dinner, so I called and Drew went above and beyond to ensure my friends were taken care of with a surprise bottle of wine and speciality cocktail. He was friendly and so easy to work with. I can't wait to visit when I am in town next. read more

This is a very eclectic millennial gathering spot. They only offer several choices of pizza (you cannot order the toppings that you desire). We chose the margarita pizza and found it quite good. read more

Good food. It's very rustic Italian, which they were absolutely shooting for and nailed it on the head. The interior design choices are a little strange, but that's literally skin deep. The wood fired oven yields great pizza and their beef tongue dish is (was?) killer, as is the seafood misto. The house made pastas seem hit or miss, some days being great, some days being so-so (and once cooked slightly below al dente). The drinks list was great while Steve was working there and they had an extensive amaro program that is hopefully still going on, despite his departure. Main issues are that the serving sizes are small relative to cost on a bunch of the plates. However, as this is the sister restaurant of Ma(i)son, it's somewhat expected. Overall, a decent place. Dining outside on the patio is nice when the weather gets mild, although the tables there are mediocrely small folding cafe tables. read more

We were on vacation and found this place on Yelp. Food was delicious. This place can complete with any restaurant in New York City.

Absolutely amazing!! Service was superb! Pizza was great! Our third time here, maybe 4th! Service and food and atmosphere is superb! Alton Brown, you need to come back and eat the menu!!! read more

Luca - Enjoying with my sweetheart! - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

This place is one of the best restaurants in Lancaster. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night or a casual/nice dinner with family or friends! Reservations are HIGHLY recommended! If you plan to walk in, come early (around 5) and you'll be able to get a seat at the bar area. The food and the service are always 5 star. The entire menu is amazing and changes slightly with the seasons but my most recent favorites include: -Charred Sweet Potatoes: paired with this gorgonzola dolce (aka sauce) that is creamy and tangy, providing a subtle compliment to the charred sweetness of the potatoes. -Tuscan Kale Salad: Kale, sliced almonds, thinly sliced apple, pecorino cheese...simple and fresh -Piccante Pizza: crushed tomato, hot sopressata, mozzarella, pecorino, shaved garlic, 'hot honey'... perfect combination of savory, salty and sweet. A VERY upscale version of pepperoni pizza read more

Outstanding food, excellent service. We (4 of us) started with appetizers of: Prosciutto de San Daniele, grilled artichokes, grilled cauliflower, sausage stuffed squid and braised beef tongue. We followed that with some pasta: Gnocchi in ox-tail ragù, pasta in Guinea hen ragù and tagliatelle alla Bolognese. Then we shared a pizza alla Norcia. After all this we went straight to desert and coffee: Nardini Grappa, Budino, Gelato, Sorbetto. What great foodie evening with foodie friends. read more

Staff was extremely nice! The inside is beautiful and nicely socially distanced. Staff was very accommodating - we made two substitutions on our pizza. The pizza was amazing. Best restaurant in Lancaster! read more

Luca - Mais pizza - sub tomato sauce for cream and basil for prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Be careful with the menu here. The service is quite good. The place is usually busy, but they handle it well. The wait staff work with energy. The Amaro selection is quite nice. My server selected three to enjoy, which I did. Delightful. Sweet or dry or bitter. Something for everyone. It's a fun atmosphere. I was ready to really enjoy my meal. And then they served the bread. Looked great. Nice crust. No salt in the bread. I make bread and I've made that mistake. The four things that make good bread are wheat flour, water, a starter, and salt. Salt makes your bread pop. Otherwise, it's dull. Luca? No salt. No flavor. We had two pizzas later. No flavor in the crust. Good crispness to the crust, so a good cook. Good technique. Nice toppings. But pizza is all about the bread. Italian food is fresh ingredients with good technique to highlight the essential flavors of the food. What can I say? For the price, I expected professional, but these things happen. On the good side, the ravioli were excellent. Properly cooked al dente. The salad was complex and well-executed. And then there were the gnocchi. Some sort of slippery, overcooked watery mess on a plate emerged. Who let that out of the kitchen, I don't know. So be careful with the menu. They're ambitious, and that's good. When they hit, it can be wonderful. But they miss a good bit. They're covering a few hundred a night when they're busy, and maybe the staff just aren't up to it yet? You have to constantly taste taste taste in a kitchen. They're not doing that at Luca. When they do, it'll be a nice trattoria. Ma non ancora... read more

Luca - Trio of Amaro to enjoy after dinner, which I did. Curated by my server, who did a great job. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

My husband and I had such a great experience at Luca last night. We arrived earlier than our reservation time, and the hostess was nice enough to let us sit at the bar until our table was ready. Cocktails/mocktails were delicious, and the staff took their time to answer my questions about the menu ingredients since I am pregnant. All of the food was so good, service was great, and they even included a gift for our baby who is due in May. Will definitely return next time we're in town! read more

If you read my other reviews, I don't hand out 5 stars easily. I've never eaten in Lancaster before and it was a very nice surprise coming in from Connecticut to enjoy a beautiful night out with friends at this new place. This restaurant was only in its third week when I ate there the other night. Our waiter Joe, friendly, funny, personable and livened up the room with other patrons too. That's what dining out is all about. You spend money to be around fun, energetic people who love their jobs and serve you to provide the ultimate social experience. The food was excellent. No hiccups and no complaints. I eat out 3 nights a week where I live in Connecticut. I know good food growing up in Westchester County, New York where some of the world's most revered chefs live. To start with appetizers: The Seafood frittata appetizer was excellent. The frying oil tasted like it was changed frequently, the seafood was tender, the shrimp was fresh and didn't taste previously frozen and it was a good amount for one person. The squid ink dipping sauce that surrounded the plate was a perfect compliment, adding just the right amount of flavor and saltiness to the dish. However, I think there could have been a little more on the plate, because I couldn't stop eating it. The Buratta, was slightly disappointing. We had just had some a week earlier in Millerton New York. The inside should be a soft creamy cheese, and the outside only a thin shell of slightly harder cheese. The Buratta here was mostly hard with very little soft cheese....and may have been on the small side for the price. The Ricotta appetizer was outstanding. What a delight to taste authentic ricotta on the finest crusty artisanal bread. The flavor was sweet and the texture was soft: creamy with just the right amount of water content that made it a delight on the crispy Italian peasant bread. For dinner, the three of us had pizza, because this place had an authentic Italian made and built wood fire oven. Having been in Italy, and being 100% Italian, speaking only Italian until I was six years old, I feel qualified to say this is some of the best personal style pizza in PA outside of a major city like Philly. The crust was the perfect combination of crunchy and doughy, with a slightly hard chew, which I enjoy because I dislike soggy and moist crusts. The sauce was fresh tasting and the oregano, which I often detest in Italian food was a nice change. Basil seems to be the spice choice for most restaurants as a topping for fresh pizza. What I liked was that this was a fresh oregano, with a fragrant and lemony overtone that complimented all the ingredients and set it apart from most pizza I eat. I have had the best pizza in the word when I was in Sicily. Having eaten it in Palermo, Enna, Pietraperzia, Castelvetranno, Rome, and even in Lombardi's in NYC, and Sal's in Mamaroneck, this pizza held its own. My one caveat: one of the pies had sausage on it, and I didn't really taste a very porky flavor. I think the addition of anise seed to the pork or more of it would have made a better impression on me. The third pie was the white pie with tomato slices and that too was fragrant, savory and fresh with an outstanding crust. Final, the gelato trio was overall delicious. I'll start with the pistachio. Not my favorite. Good flavor, but the texture was unfortunately all wrong. Gelato should never be rendered grainy and coarse, and this, on the roof of my mouth, felt like there was sand in it. The caramel gelato was delicious and smooth, and the corn ice cream was unique and surprising delicious. Even though it was a strange experience at first, the flavor was delightful, intense, and addictive. You can tell the owners know what they're doing. The decor is spot on, with a great mixture of NYC-style subway tile, reclaimed wood shelves, and water pipes as the hardware thought the space. The real star of the space is the curved trestle ceiling beams which add massive height and openness to space. We met the wife of the chef who are both the owners or managers, not sure, and she seemed genuine, really friendly and excited about her position as hostess. This is a meticulous place with upscale modern, farm-to-table decor, a cool bar with great Negronis, and inventive cocktails. An attractive, attentive waitstaff, added to the overall experience. Lancaster just got a major upgrade. I highly recommend it. read more

Loved our visit here! We ordered focaccia and the gem salad to start. Then the tagliatelle bolognese and a dish that had rolled egg pasta, artichokes, goat cheese, ricotta, lemon, mint, EVOO. Would go back! read more

First, the restaurant it self is very cool, they did a great job with the design of the restaurant. The staff was also good in that they were attentive and knew the menu well. However, the food lets much to be desired. I guess I'm dumb thinking that the roasted artichokes would be the heart of the artichoke. It was not. It was the whole artichoke and we had no idea how to eat it. It was simply very disappointing. We then went on to our main plate. I had the rigatoni which was good but seemed to be more of a small plate portion than a full size plate. My wife had a pizza and she simply could not eat it due to the very burnt crust, which seems to be the way all the pizzas were made. I was really hoping that this would be our new "come to" place to eat. However, we will not be back. read more

Honestly very overhyped and not great. Service was wonderful but food was not. Everything was so bland. I honestly would have preferred jarred sauce I really wanted to like this place but it is sooo expensive and the food is just not that good. read more

Visiting on business with a coworker, popped in here 1st night expecting an old mob joint... no, this is modern Italian that can compete with the biggest cities! Beautiful floor plan, patio and bar, amazing maiz pizza, best white balsamic I have ever had, and pretty damn good pasta given we had to order gluten-free noodles. I don't know when I'll be back in Lancaster next but when I do, LUCA will be the first thing on my mind! read more

We have eaten at Luca twice. The food is excellent, and interesting. The waitstaff friendly, knowledgeable about the food and helpful. The building and the decor are beautiful (the architect, Tono, owns and has an office in the building. Unfortunately, they play loud, bass-heavy "music". Because the room is quite live, all you hear is a loud "whoom, whoom" from the bass. What this type of music has to do with Italy is beyond me. They don't play loud music in fine restaurants in Italy. Both times, I asked our waiter to have the "music" turned down (off would be much better); it was turned down ever so slightly. Still, the awful din continued, necessitating yelling to have a conversation. This really a shame because this otherwise a fine restaurant. I plan to return, if and when the owners come to their senses and turn off the music. read more

This was an awesome date night spot. The dining here is definitely treated as an experience and we absolutely enjoyed everything we had. We will be returning in the near future! read more

We really like Luca, they have a lot of vegetarian options. I think this is a good place for pretty much any occasion. It's not super casual... And I think you can make reservations ahead of time read more

If you're going to spend any time in Lancaster, live nearby and like Italian....don't walk but run to LUCA now.

I live nearby Luca and come here often. The atmosphere is lovely, and the bar (which is no reservation, seat yourself and full service) is where I sit most frequently. They have a great wine list and make tasty cocktails as well. Given the hype about this place, it is worth noting that I've found that the food varies... it can be just fine to delicious. This might account for variation in the reviews on here, but it's getting better and better over time. The first couple of times I tried Luca a few months ago the pizza crust came out seriously burnt, but now (most of the time) it's great. I love brick oven Italian cooking, but I guess it takes a bit of experience to reach perfect level of consistency. They seem to be moving in the right direction on that front, and Luca's prices aren't bad for the quality. I highly recommend the Octopus small plate (fantastic), the squid with ink dipping sauce appetizer, fresh salads, and most of the pizzas are yummy. read more

Just Ok. Drink service at the bar was pretty lame and the food was alright. I had a fish special that was the best tasting dish out of the five entrees ordered by our party. Two people ordered pizzas which were supposedly the restaurant's superstar menu item but they fell flat. We left with both pizzas 1/2 finished and no one wanted to box it up to take home. Maybe it was an off night but I've heard nothing good from other locals about Luca. Sometimes I can be pretty forgiving about so-so food if the service makes up for the other shortcomings. This isn't one of those places. This restaurant is mediocre and a spot-on "3" read more

Pros: really great indoor/outdoor atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and some interesting food you can't get just anywhere. Cons: not really a con per say...but if I'm paying 4 star prices it just bugs me a little that the company uniform is a tee shirt and jeans. Overall the food was great. We had three appetizers, all of which were great...small, but great. Appetizers are definitely not for sharing here, get your own. Pizza was acceptable, but after the sweet corn bruschetta and squash blossom appetizers it felt pale in comparison. Overall a solid date night spot as long as you're willing to spend $80-$100 with the potential of needing a late night Digiorno to finish the job. read more

Difficult to navigate (always very packed)and good luck if you don't have a reservation, plan to wait at the crowded bar elbow to elbow for who knows how long. Service is good and foods pretty good too. but the sound bounces off the walls because the front is basically a giant garage door. Noisy read more

My husband and I had a great time here! The atmosphere, service, and food were outstanding. We will definitely be back because there are so many things on the menu that sounded good, but we couldn't try them all! I had the roasted cauliflower, which was a nice portion and very flavorful. My husband had the beef tongue, which he really enjoyed. He also had the little gem lettuces which was a really tasty salad. We split the Cavalo pizza- really good. Our server, Mitch, was very pleasant and helpful. LUCA is definitely a gem in our wonderful city of Lancaster. read more

Luca - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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First and foremost, Abby was a phenomenal server. The service was unparalleled. I ordered the burrata, chicken liver, and the gnocchi. They were all off the charts. Rumor has it, that when Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, he wasn't looking for the indies. He was seeking this gnocchi. Unfortunately, he didn't find it, but I did. I'm a better man for it. I look forward to my exposé in the history books honoring the monumental moment when my taste buds experienced pure bliss. read more

We've been waiting for a good Italian restaurant in Lancaster, so we were excited to try Luca. Though the menu was limited, our foursome was happy with all of our selections. I disagree with the previous reviewer- the cauliflower small plate was delicious. My husband and I split the grilled octopus and were happy as well. We also had the chicken, the sausage pizza, the crab spaghettini, and the tagliatelle bolognese. Everything was very good. The service was a little slow, but to be fair, it was a Saturday night at 8pm, the place was packed, and our server was very nice and made good recommendations. The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous. Great atmosphere. My biggest compliment to Luca is that we all kept commenting how unique everything was- very different and bold flavors- very untraditional as far as Italian would be concerned. This is definitely not your typical "red gravy" Italian restaurant, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. read more

Service was excellent. Pricey but food is high quality. Great for a night out/celebration. Would recommend the asparagus!

My favorite place to get homemade gnocchi! I've heard everything else is delicious too but I always order the gnocchi. Love it here. Only downfall is the parking. read more

This place was amazing. Went with a group of coworkers. Pizza and all the appetizers we had (including the tongue) were excellent. Cocktails were also on point. read more

This was by far some of the best pizza we've ever eaten. The toppings were fresh, that crust- amazing! The ambiance was simply incredible for a date night. I highly recommend Luca for anyone who wants gourmet pizza! read more

I had been here several years ago and was so excited to go back, especially after hearing that they received a James Beard award. The bartender never greeted us once we got seated. I had to ask HIM for water and to place a drink order. Overall I thought the food was sub-par. The service was terrible. Not once did the bartender ask us how our food or drinks were. However, I will say, the manager was fantastic and got us a seat at the bar after we accidentally reserved a table at the wrong Luca. read more

Delicious wood fire pizza! Cozy atmosphere. Classic Italian food. Nice cocktails but overall a tad pricey.

I've eaten at this restaurant many times and each time I hope it'll be good but it is not. Service is horrible. Food takes 2 hours to arrive at minimum. Restaurant is COLD. Staff is not accommodating nor friendly. read more