It was great the food was great it was salty and the service was amazing I recommend this place

LUCA's pasta rivals Italy. I would know... I just got back from Rome. Definitely my favorite food in Lancaster. I love that they always have burrata, but change the way it's served seasonally. Each time I eat at Luca I fall more in love. From their pasta to pizza to dessert, you can't go wrong. The restaurant itself is bright and open. There's a loft, bar, high tops, regular tables, and outdoor seating. Something for everyone! Personally I like to sit at the bar. The bartenders are fantastic. I usually tell them what I like in a cocktail and let them do their thing. I also always end with an espresso martini. They use quality espresso and it's not too sweet! Definitely a must eat restaurant! read more

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I was visiting Lancaster for the weekend and was recommend this place by multiple people and it did not disappoint!! The special Negroni cocktail was such a creative, delicious cocktail. The Summer Corn Gnocchi was to die for and is seasonal, so I highly recommend! If I am ever in Lancaster again, I will be back! read more

LUCA - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Parking: small parking lot which was perfect for our SUV. There are 3compact car spaces. Also, on street parking. Inside: Modern industrial romantic vibe with warm lighting. Friendly greeting upon arrival. I made reservations on-line. (A must-this places is busy) There is a small upstairs, so if you have limitations -tell them when you make reservations. It was a little cramped upstairs. Waitress was prompt & friendly. Weird thing, she said chef prefers to have apps & dinner in at same time. Drinks: beer, wine & cocktails -pricey but good. You get your choice of water at the table too. Got the Luca Sour and a glass of wine. Appetizers/small plates: We got the Focaccia bread with oil. Delicious with a little char from the oven. Dinner: Fungi pizza - good, just a tad to much oil Wood-grilled bronzino fish. It's a white fish that had my hubby wanting another one. It was that good! Waitress recommended it. I don't like some fish but I'd get that. (It comes with head on. Tell them if you want it off) it had white beans with it which we thought was weird at first, but it works. Dessert: the star of the show was Salted Butterscotch. We died and went to dessert heaven. read more

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Was in town for few days & found this place (thank you, Yelp). Nice classy-casual open setting with some outdoor seating. Reservations accepted for indoor seating (credit card required & $50 no-show fee), outside is first come, first served. Probably the best gnocchi I've ever had, served with sweet corn, cream sauce & pancetta. YUM. Partner had chicken with pesto which he enjoyed. Waitress said they change their menu every 6 weeks or so, which is nice. House made foccacia was nothing to write home about. The little gem lettuces (basically a caesar-like salad with a lemon caesar dressing) was big & foccacia croutons were good, but definitely over-priced at $15 ($12 max), but most "caesar" salads are overpriced. I wouldn't get that again, although it tasted good. We dined at 4:00, & place was jumping when we left, which was good to see for a small business. Looking forward to returning. read more

My boyfriend and I are really into Modern-Italian and Luca's seemed like a good fit. We started off with drinks, he got a moscow mule and I got a Negroni - drinks were fine, nothing to brag about. Then we got the little gem lettuces... holy sh*t - it was basically a lemon-garlic caesar IMO. Just phenomenal. It was so FLAVORFUL we honestly couldn't believe it... I would've gotten another if we didn't each order our own meals. Even the hostess came over to ask what we thought of it, she says she orders it for dinner every time she's working. For mains, we both got a pizza and left no solider (slice) behind. He got the Piccante which was a spicy soppressata pizza with hot honey and I got the Vincenzo (I subbed pancetta for anchovies cause that's what I like); it was a white pizza with brussel sprouts and caramelized onions. I LOVED my pizza and he thoroughly enjoyed his as well. For dessert, we got the salted butterscotch budino which was a pudding but unlike any Jello pudding you've bought at the store - it was so creamy & delicious. Overall, for the food alone, 10/10 recommend. Would definitely go back if I was in the area again. read more

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Great food and service!! Really enjoyed the Gnocci and the pane di Rocco. Will definitely go back! read more

LUCA - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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This was a truly excellent meal. We had apps of little gems lettuce and focaccia bread. The salad is a must even if you don't like salads. Truly light dressing with lots of flavor and top notch ingredients. The focaccia croutons were a little big for me is the only thing I could find. The homemade focaccia bread is awesome but even better with the salad. We had the Margherita pizza for our entree and the addition of the shallots adds an interesting flavor to separate it from the rest. This was worth every penny and the service was amazing. Our waitress made us feel like she had all the time in the world even though it was a very busy seating. Definitely a place I will take people to in future. read more

LUCA - Wonderful aesthetic and open kitchen. A little cramped quarters but looks like there are optional spread out areas. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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I went to Lancaster for a mini solo trip and was excited to go to LUCA for a treat-yourself meal. The restaurant interior was pretty, and the atmosphere on a Thursday night was crowded and lively. I had a reservation at the bar for dinner. I was looking forward to trying the frito misto (fried calamari) but the waitress informed me that the fryer was not working that night so I opted to forgo the appetizer and just order an entrée. I ordered the tagliatelle Bolognese and thought it was delicious. The fresh pasta was perfectly cooked and the meat sauce was rich but not too heavy to finish. I would love to come back again to try more menu items, hoping that all the equipment is fixed! read more

LUCA - tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The food at Luca was outstanding and comparable to that found in Italy. We were able to sample several of the dishes and each was better than the last. The service was also outstanding and they cheerfully accommodated our several dietary restrictions with a smile. The restaurant itself was beautiful and clearly a local hotspot. I only wish they were located closer to me! I suggest a Texas location. read more

This place is an absolute neighborhood gem. Stellar service, food, drink selection and authenticity. Only issue was the rabbit pasta special was more of an appetizer portion than a main. Everything else was a banger and we can't wait to return for their yummy looking pizza. read more

LUCA - Best buffalo mozzarella and cocktails. My date is pretty decent looking also. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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5/5!!!!!! Such an adorable restaurant, my husband and I loved the atmosphere. Our server was so knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. The portions are perfect sized & filling, BEYOND tasty. read more

LUCA - Truffle Alfredo (on special $45) & a braised beef entree ($24 - I can't seem to find it on the menu.) - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Excellent food. Terrible parking. A little loud at times. Popular with a younger crowd.

My husband and I got a gift card to Luca for Christmas from our friends and decided to use it for Valentine's Day. This was such a delicious meal and a lovely experience, we will definitely be back! The tempura fried veggies are a must have. read more

Love this place, great vibe, friendly, prompt, service, and fantastic food. It's fun to sit at the "chefs table" it's really a bar overlooking the kitchen. They make their food in house, from scratch, which is tough to find. They even make their own pasta! If you're looking for quality over quantity this is the place for you. read more

This was a night to remember! This was our first time here, and it definitely won't be the last! LUCA is a spacious restaurant, with an incredible, calming ambiance. The restaurant has low lights that give an overall welcoming atmosphere. The food packs a punch with each and every bite, leaving you want more. The service at LUCA was amazing, with our server (Olivia) giving us suggestions and making us feel comfortable for our first time. Overall, we would give this establishment five stars! read more

This place couldn't be cuter. Located in a neighborhood with garage doors open it felt very inviting. We did not have reservations thinking we could snag a bar seat which apparently are even now reserved after Covid. The hostess graciously seated us with a time limit we could stick too. We enjoyed a couple craft cocktails. The female bartender was quite slow in making our drinks. She was mostly interested in visiting with her co-workers. It took 15 minutes for our two cocktails. We were her only order at that time. While friendly I think she could pick up the pace a bit, especially since we were on limited time. That really was the only negative. Food came out in a timely manner. We shared the burrata cheese with smoked prosciutto and Angelo pizza. Both were divine! I had the Luca Sour and forget the other. My husband had an Old Fashioned. Prices were reasonable for food and cocktails are cocktails. They take up most of our bill. Definitely recommend and would go back! Give it a try! read more

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Every time we visit Lancaster, we have to get dinner here. The food is always so delicious and the drinks are great too! I wish I could transport this place to my area, so I could visit every week, lol. I would definitely recommend getting one of the pizzas but also try any of the dishes the staff recommends. You can't go wrong with this spot, perfect for date night, hanging with friends, or catching a bite alone at the bar. read more

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The restaurant was beautiful and and had a nice vibe the weight staff was very polite and knowledgeable and offered good service the food was delicious! read more

I love it when a restaurant has a robust non alcoholic menu! Of course Luca has delicious food too, but I'm so pleased with their alcohol free offerings that I had to write a review! Highly recommend their "amaro" mull. read more

LUCA - Alcohol free IPA - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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The Paiute was one of the worst ever. Soggy and tasteless. The bursts was good but had to pay for the bread to go with it. we had eaten here before and it was good. The restaurant was clean and service adequate. Drinks were ok. Very disappointed with our $100 lunch. Pretty sure we won't be repeat customers. read more

This place was amazing. Everything was light and delicious . Service was superb. I expected to walk out of there feeling very stuffed. We ordered two appetizers, two entrees, a pizza and two desserts for two adults and two kids under the age of 10. And we felt satisfied and full, but not stuffed. Would def come again. read more

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Have been there 3 times. Feel that the food and experience has progressively declined each time. Our first visit in the summer was the absolute best. The gnocchi with truffle and corn, pesto pasta dish, and shishito peppers were amazingly flavorful and cooked to perfection. The vegetarian options were quite disappointing at our most recent visit. The gnocchi alla nonna was underwhelming, even to our waiter's acknowledgement. However, this was the only vegetarian pasta option on the menu. We got the Spaetzle modified to be made vegetarian, however this was quite flavorless as well. The mushroom crostino was our favorite dish last night. The frito misto is essentially vegetable tempura, however, the flavor was quite bitter and we could not finish this dish. Lastly, the main dining area was freezing cold and quite uncomfortable, to the point where we had to put our jackets on due to the cold air drafting in each time the main door was opened. Few things I would suggest for improvement: 1. Include more vegetarian pasta/main dishes on the menu. 2. Improve the heating for those sitting near the door. 3. Bring back the summer menu!! Loved the shishito peppers and the pesto pasta dish as well. Perhaps always have one dish with truffle or an option to add this on, as this was a huge hit this past summer! read more

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First time here and the last. The food was good, not great . The seating was horrible. It was the most uncomfortable I have ever been in a restaurant. We were seated at a high table and I am not tall so the table was too high to sit at and the metal backless stools were extremely uncomfortable. I actually had to stand during part of the meal. Made the experience terrible and I was not the only one of our dinner party that was bothered by it. A quality restaurant should have quality seating. read more

Food was delicious, service was offensive Condescending server. No welcome, little to no eye contact. Removed plates without asking - even those with food we were still eating. Server Kayla managed to set a new low on the hospitality scale. read more

I had a delightful meal here last night! There was a great bustling atmosphere, and I walked in without a reservation and got a seat at the kitchen bar. I had a local IPA with an absolutely delicious gem lettuce salad (a pleasantly aggressive dressing, crunchy chilled lettuce, and fresh chives), and then a glass of nerello mascalese from Etna that was perfect (minerally, dusty, volcanic) with a salsiccia pizza that was rich and meaty. The crust was great and together with the salad, made for a large and satisfying meal. This place is exceptional. I will run back here the next time I'm in Lancaster. read more

Each time I come here it gets better and better. The waitstaff is always kind, the ambiance is engaging, and the food is fantastic. Last night, we started with several appetizers- the grilled asparagus (a special), the soprasata/cheese focaccia, a Caesar salad (omg the croutons) and the radishes. All were amazing but the asparagus was outstanding. For our mains, we shared some pasta and pizzas- the fregola with clams (a little minty and fresh! Very unusual), the tagliatelle with bolognese (my favorite), the sopprasata pizza with hot honey (amazing) and the truffle pizza. The wine we chose was the montepulciano and was absolutely delicious as well. If you're in lancaster, you need to try this place out read more

LUCA - Soprassata pizza - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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The food was delicious. Some very interesting appetizers that seem odd but they are delicious. Had mozzarella with a pumkin spread and pear. It was really good as well as the bread. They make a really good Expresso martini. Our server was very attentive but not overwhelming. There is a main area with a bar and then a side room. Both areas are nice. They only serve meatballs on Sunday and it would be nice if they had them everyday. read more

We enjoyed this restaurant very much and thank they have great service and exceptional food. We would recommend you try them.

My husband and I selected Luca to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary while spending the weekend in Lancaster. An excellent choice! We booked our reservation well in advance and requested outdoor seating. Walking up, I noticed some tables located on their patio near heat lamps, and some that were lining the street. I was hoping for a patio table and we were in luck. All of the appropriate safety measures were in place, including a list where we were asked to leave our name and phone number, presumably for contact tracing purposes. I haven't seen too many places do this so that alone was very impressive. We started with the kale salad and prosciutto di parma, which came with some crunchy breadsticks. Great start to the meal! Next up was the rigatoni, which was just the right size for sharing as we were trying to save room for the main course: pizza! We ordered the piccante, with spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella and soppressata, and the gamberro pie with a white garlicky sauce, mozzarella and shrimp. Both pizzas were delicious! Throughout our meal, our main server and all of the food runners were great. At this point we were stuffed and decided to skip dessert in favor of finishing the meal with an amaro flight. Luca has a very impressive amaro list and we were happy with our flight, which was curated just for us after the bartender came over to our table to chat about our preferences. We absolutely loved this experience! So happy we finally made it to Luca and can't wait to return! read more

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The overall vibes of this restaurant is great. Easy street parking and nice atmosphere. The food is on the pricier side for how it's taste. But I read that they pay their staff a living wage so I can support for the price being on the higher end. Restaurant was very busy with every seat filled so reservations is a must to ensure you get a seat. read more

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We need more Lucas in this world! This place hit 5 stars with food, drink and atmosphere. Luca was bustling for a Thursday night. I walked in and there were clearly several groups waiting to be seated, but I was alone, on business and they had one spot at the bar open, just for me! For drinks, they have a great selection of cocktails, Italian wine and you can even get an Amaro flight. If you are an Amaro lover, this is a must as they have over 30 selections of Amaro. I ordered a glass of Sangiovese that was served slightly cool and perfect for a hot night. I wanted to try all of their small plates, but opted just for the asparagus since I was alone and fully planning on eating 3 courses:) Holy asparagus it was food! I watched the "grill master" fan smoke on the asparagus, prior to coming out and I knew it was going to be good, but it was even better than I imagined. They serve it with a prosciutto aioli and breadcrumbs that gives a nice crunch and tasted like heaven. Course 2, I went with the Piselli pizza, because my lovely bartender recommended it. I do not care for peas and this pizza has peas and pea leaves on it, but it was delightful. The flavors were perfectly balanced and the crust was absolutely perfect. Definitely recommend going outside the box and trying this one. You won't be disappointed. Went with Dolcetto on the 2nd glass of wine and it had a slight effervescence and paired perfect with the pizza. Onto dessert......salted butterscotch budino. Butterscotch is not a flavor I'm wild about but throw some caramel, salt and whipped cream on top and it was heavenly. Perfect ending to a perfect meal. As for atmosphere, this had a perfect mix of rustic/romantic and bustling neighborhood feel. It's casual, but has an upscale ambiance. The most impressive part is the wood burning element. Watching them cook on the hearth and bake the pizzas in the wood fired oven is mesmerizing. Bravo, Luca. I will definitely stop next time I'm in Lancaster! read more

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This place was a nice find in central Lancaster. Not something I expected to find in the middle of farm country. The food was great and everything tasted very fresh. Their noodles are freshly made in house. Not pictured the delicious Buccotini dish because I inhaled it. Even my 2 year old loves the pasta. He had my husband's Tagliatelle. The patio was great and the inside seemed really nice and clean as well. read more

LUCA - Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Had such a wonderful time here with friends and family during my visit to Lancaster. All of us had different cocktails--personally I had this citrusy one (a vodka base--so annoyed I've forgotten the name). Delicious. We also ordered two pizzas for the table, the mushroom pizza and the Italian sausage pizza, and they were so good. The crust was that perfect crunchy but soft texture you expect from wood oven pizza, and the flavors were all balanced. Living in New York means I get to be a snob in these matters, right? Isn't that the deal? Well these passed with flying colors. Highly recommend for a classy night. Also, they take great Covid-19 precautions. read more

LUCA - Delicious citrusy cocktails--grr I forgot the name. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Service is good, Food was, fresh, fantastic, and out of this world. What else do you need to know. read more

Hands down the best pizza we've had in Ohio. Hands. Down. Decent delivery, but I do have to say this is not an inexpensive pizza. Definitely hit up the vampire if you dig garlic. Fantastic. read more

Run, don't walk. Do not come to Lancaster without making a reservation for Luca. Bring the kids if they're around, the vibe is unassuming and convivial. TL;DR the best Italian food I've had in North America despite growing up and living 2 decades in NYC. You can taste the quality and attention to detail in every single bite and sip. Bring the children, the ambiance is congenial and unpretentious. Ask for a complimentary tray of floured pizza dough (brilliant idea whoever came up with it,) it keeps the little ones entertained for 30-45 minutes. My husband and I come to Lancaster from Philly every 2-3 months with our young kid in tow. We have done this the start of the pandemic when every place in the world seemed closed. Over time we became well versed in the amazing, growing food scene in the region. It wasn't until 2022 we discovered Luca. My goodness am I beyond impressed. First there is the tantalizing food with rich contrasts and indulgent flavors and yet still maintaining a respectful nod to restraint and seasonality. Having had the good fortune to travel through central Italy several years ago we had some great meals. Many of those pale in comparison to what we have each time we dine at Luca. My go to litmus test of how much a restaurant and its chefs respect both the ingredients they are serving as well as the art of cooking is to examine the care put into the items that are not making much profits. The simplest, humblest table bread is a refined exercise in the power of yeast, fermentation and what some fire, the most ancient tool m, and high quality EVOO can do to bring that fermenty chemical dance to life. The seasonally adjusted burrata takes that nod to natural chemistry and becomes disrespectful in its playfulness. (There was a kumquat and burrata bathed in EVOO back in April I still think of...I wonder if it thinks of me too.) I daydream of their cacio e pepe, which, sacrilege as it may be, is superior to much of what I had while in Rome. The blend of a nearly over salted cheese is reined in by its creaminess with the perfect amount of chew on the beautiful pasta, finished with the loud but beautifully assertive sharp black pepper. It is a symphony of contrasting notes to tease the palate and provoke the mind. It is not a replica of what happens in Roman trattorias it is its own, playful thing. And boy is it divine. Next there is the service; perfection start to end. I have yet to have an encounter with a Luca employee who is not warm, kind, accommodating and helpful. From the start to end the staff are impeccably helpful, observant and warm. The feather in their cap, in my opinion, is though the restaurant is serving some of the finest Italian food in North America, the ambiance is inviting and unpretentious. The food and hospitality create a harmony not an image. It has now become a ritual for my family to begin and end each trip to Lancaster with a meal at Luca. It has also become a pregame ritual for me to pray that the burrata and cacio e pepe have not been removed from the menu. Else I would cry real tears. read more

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I used to live in Lancaster and always wanted to try this restaurant, and decided to stop by today when I was in the area. Very disappointed in the food, and regretted making a dinner reservation. Food: (2/5) For appetizers, my husband, toddler, and I got the burrata dish and a stuffed focaccia bread (on special). The burrata dish was a great balance of sweet (cherries), salty, and creamy. The stuffed focaccia was okay, but I felt like all the seasonings did not meld well together. For the main dishes we got the Lumache Cacio E Pepe and Margherita pizza. The Cacio E Pepe was peppery and delicious, but the Margherita pizza was so salty. There is definitely a delicate balance between using salt to flavor a dish, and going overboard. I had many Margherita pizza's in my life but I felt like I was taking bites of salt. My husband was so hungry and tried to eat the pizza but could not finish his slice. My toddler loves pizza, and did not finish her slice as well. Environment/Service: (3/5) The restaurant is beautiful, bright, and open. Our server was nice, but once I mentioned the saltiness of the pizza, I was told they are a "salt forward" restaurant and she had to deal with other issues before seeing if she could take care of the pizza from the bill. I would have opted for a new pizza, but never was offered. At this point my toddler and husband were starving, and we just left to find food elsewhere. The server did remove the pizza off the bill. Not sure if this was just an off day or what we ordered, but for spending over $70 for food/drinks and leaving hungry and not satisfied with our dining experience is a big disappointment. Especially when I was looking forward to trying Luca. read more

A true 5 star gem! The freshness of the ingredients & creativity of spices takes this Italian Restaurant to an entirely different level! The grilled half chicken is crispy with the perfect amount of "heat" ..it will have you in total delight! The pasta dishes are unique & the perfect portion. There is a cool selection of specialty drinks and the servers are attentive & friendly! Lastly, save room for desert.....they are equally as creative & delicious! read more

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I have been to Luca close to 10 times since moving to Lancaster in 2021 and I always have a lovely time. It's obvious the kitchen puts a lot of care into the food they serve and it always surpasses my expectations. The building is warm and comfortable. The service never fails to make me feel welcome and attended to. Thank you, Luca! read more