service, food, atmosphere everything was just amazing! our server was so nice and informative. from the first course to the fourth one everything was just perfection. and for the price i can't wait to come every week just to try all the dishes! read more

Very nice and unexpected. I found Lucca on Yelp and walked in, sat at the bar and had an outstanding meal. The staff knew the details of the dishes and wine, I really enjoyed it. Very unique, they said it was an alley that the owners built a roof over and opened the restaurant. Very cool. read more

A tremendous restaurant in Des Moines. I liked how the kitchen was right off the bar, all the food was piping hot. I went here on a whim and will make it a must stop on my next visit. The sausage and pepper risotto was awesome. I followed that up with the chicken parmigiana and wasn't disappointed. The wait staff was very helpful and knowledgeable about the wine selection. As someone who makes his own pasta sauce from his grandmother's recipe, I have come to loathe sauces that come in a jar since I always think they taste like ketchup. This sauce was outstanding and would definitely come back the next time I'm in Des Moines. read more

Excellent service, excellent food. Excellent ambiance, too. Lunch is good--similar to Basil Prospieri's in 801 Grand, a bit pricier--dinner is divine. The prix fix menu leaves you plenty of choices and everything I've tasted there has been well-executed. Their servers are smart and approachable. I hesitate to tell this story, but remember I gave this place five stars. The first time we went for dinner, my wife found a piece of plastic in her pasta--I think the wrapping of a cheese. We were a bit appalled, but the server/management handled the situation with grace and generosity. We didn't make it back for months, and when we went back, more than one server remembered us and made sure we were taken care of. Now, the experience is (I think) out-of-the-ordinary, but speaks well to their commitment to being Des Moines' best restaurant. read more

Real good food. I gave it 5 stars cause I feel bad giving less than a perfect score. But gotta point out that their menu doesn't have a lot of options. Everything on it is good though. read more

I'll take other diners' word for the quality of the food at Lucca. However, if communication is part of customer service, then Lucca failed during our long-planned visit to Des Moines in December 2008. We had done our research, visited the web site and read the menu, even checked out the restaurant visually during the afternoon. It was only when we presented ourselves for an early dinner that we were confronted with the small sign that read "Private party." The restaurant was closed to the public. We were surprised and disappointed that neither the sign listing the opening hours in the window nor the restaurant's web site had any information about the closure as little as two hours before the event. A restaurant that sets the bar this high should make a better effort at communicating with its existing and new customers, even during the holidays. read more

Ah, well, if you insist... I went to Lucca with my husband years ago, first on our own, and then because a business acquaintance promised better treatment if we mentioned his name. The food was great, but we'll never go back. Both times, we found the staff too big for their britches, and for the kind of joint this is! If they are nicer now, we won't know, because we are... out of there! Service, to us is 50%, if not more, of the experience. read more

The star rating for my experience is mainly due to the service- the food had its highs and lows, but the service was just plain terrible. It took 45 min between sitting down and having our server take our order. On top of that, our server was just plain rude. At a nice restaurant, I hate feeling like I'm an inconvenience to a busy server. And busy or not, there is no reason to be rude. After waiting so long to order, another server noticed how agitated we were and sent our waiter to our table. He was curt and completely unapologetic about his mistake. I can forgive mistakes in service if the server is at least kind and polite about the issue- but that was simply not the case. He was rude and short with us for the entire duration of our meal. For appetizers, my husband got shrimp risotto and I got the gnocchi. The risotto was cooked well and flavorful. The gnocchi were technically were impressive, but disappointingly the centers were cool. I'd say the appetizers were competent, but not as impressive as I'd hoped from reviews. The main courses were very hit and miss. My scallops were amazing- seasoned perfectly, cooked well and without a trace of grit. The aioli with the scallops paired perfectly and was absolutely delicious. It was paired with a lackluster cucumber salad which was watery and watered down the sauce on the plate. That was disappointing because the sauce was so wonderful! Despite this, the scallops were overall a win! The pork my husband ordered (per the suggestion of our wonderful waiter) was not impressive at all. The sauce lacked flavor (and salt) which is a huge pet peeve of mine at nice restaurants. Taste your sauces, people! That would have been a simple fix. It looked like a ladle full of pot roast plopped down on a nice plate.... and didn't taste much better, either. For dessert, we both got the panna cotta which was delicious, but I would have appreciated not having to pick pieces of strawberry leaves out of my dish. Overall, we left feeling disappointed, but we would give it another chance (though if we got the same server, we'd ask for a new one!) read more

This was my first restaurant experience in Des Moines. Just a cute little restaurant with a modern, trendy feel, gave you the Lincoln Park vibe of Chicago. Their restaurant is simple with sandwiches, soups and salads. I opted for a sandwich that was just fresh and yummy. Tried to go back one day but it was after the infamous 2 p.m. good luck trying to find food in downtown Des Moines time. Hope to get back! read more

There are many reasons why we like Lucca: great atmosphere in an older building, smaller and locally owned, and intimate. But One of the main reasons we went to Lucca is we could count on ordering homemade pasta--one of the few if only place that makes their own pasta and you can tell the difference. The last time we went we asked and discovered they are no longer making their pasta. With so many restaurants from which to choose, they lost a distinctive advantage. Now there are other restaurants that match the other reasons we liked Lucca. read more

Lucca's food and atmosphere are fantastic. It's a small restaurant, but it has great service and a great vibe. The dress is semi-dress for dinner, which gives it a fun flavor. The menu is always changing, so you never know what you might order for your primi and secondi. Sitting in the East Village at the base of the Iowa capitol it is picturesque and there's plenty of parking. I had the gnocchi (they are well known for this), and the chicken breast with cuos-cuos, cheese and prosciutto. It isn't just a restaurant, it's more like a dining experience. [recommend making a reservation in advance] read more

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Lucca and had a wonderful experience. The staff and service were great, the ambiance was gorgeous, and we all loved the food. An extra thank you to Brindusa and Steve for making our rehearsal so special! read more

This was a disappointment and myself along with everyone in our party was truly hoping for more. The restaurant itself has nice ambiance--groovy brick wall exposure and all white otherwise--furniture, wall around the mostly-exposed kitchen/cooking area, etc. The issue was with food quality and flavor. We all selected the prix fixe menu for the evening. When the bread was brought to the table with fresh olive oil sprinkled with cracked black pepper we were excited. However at first taste of the olive oil we had our warning sign. The olive oil was tasteless, but at least the bread was fresh. The 1st course was salad, and 3 of us selected the Caesar salad and 1 selected the beet salad. The Caesar was served with iceberg lettuce only, an odd mayo based dressing and what we all described as Kraft green can Parmesan cheese (which really isn't Parmesan). I have never been served a Caesar salad using iceberg and canned Parmesan. What happened to the romaine? The next course was a pasta course and 2 of us selected the rigatoni with provolone, 1 selected cracked pepper spaghetti and one chicken risotto. The risotto was made using white or sushi rice, not risotto. Wow. It had a lackluster flavor as well. Those of us that ordered the rigatoni picked off the cheese some of the sauce with a bite or two of pasta, overall a very bland flavor but at least pasta was al dente. The cracked black pepper spaghetti was served with the same flavorless olive oil that our bread came with, resulting in another bland dish unfortunately. The main course had everyone ordering something different--a steak, an eggplant Parmesan, a chicken Parmesan and a pork schnitzel with mushrooms and white sauce. The steak was average and cooked per order, which was a relief. The eggplant Parmesan and chicken Parmesan were both OK, better than the dishes beforehand. The pork schnitzel was probably the best flavored dish given the mushrooms were cooked properly and the meat freshly breaded and fried, but the white sauce was bland and unremarkable. The dessert course was the BEST given our experience with the lack of food quality and taste leading up to the last course, which we all surmised was likely purchased elsewhere and not prepared by this restaurant. Perhaps it was an off night or perhaps times are tough and therefore buying traditional Italian ingredients isn't feasible (sushi rice instead of risotto and iceberg instead of romaine). We do not plan to return and recommend quality and flavor is revisited immediately. read more

I had a delicious cajun tuna sandwich with a perfect spinach salad for lunch. The price tag came in under $10, only because the waiter forgot my glass of wine. Still, imperfect service does not a lunch ruin. Piano from a baby grand in the front of the house, sun streaming in front windows and food prepared with art and precision made a quick stop while East Village shopping into an experience I plan to replicate. read more

My party of three went to Lucca for a Saturday night dinner. We arrived fifteen minutes before our reservation, but they seated us right away and took our drink orders. The restaurant occupies a long, narrow space with heavily-mortared brick walls and a small exhibition kitchen 2/3rds of the way toward the back of the room. A canvas bag of trash blemished the scene by resting against the wall across from us. Our server wore too much hair gel and seemed like there were at least thirteen other places he'd have rather been than Lucca. He was hipster apathy embodied within a jersey shore exterior. It was moderately off-putting, but he did a decent job throughout the night. I ordered the duck terrine for the first course and the other two patrons had the gnocchi. The terrine's saltiness was nicely complemented by an apricot marmalade or chutney on top, and sliced pistachios added some texture. The gnocchis were fantastic: large, soft, and tossed in a light bath of olive oil and parmesan with a hint of sage. While I appreciate the delicate nature of gnocchi, these were a little underseasoned and also could have used more sage. That minor gripe aside, the first course was very good for all of us. (As a side note about the slightly-underseasoned gnocchi, Lucca has no salt and pepper at the table. I find it presumptuous when a restaurant does this. I've been to nicer restaurants that provide these, and I find little reason NOT to.) For the second course, I ordered a salmon dish that was done almost like a tagine except with Spanish or New World seasonings. Beans and cumin provided an earthy base, and the salmon was crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. Overall, the dish was slightly heavy and clumsy, but it was delicious and well-seasoned. Another patron's scallops were prepared nearly perfectly (the sear was a bit weak), but the dish was unexciting. The scallops rested on a bed of mashed potatoes surrounded by a simplistic vermouth bisque that provided some color but little flavor. It was nothing to complain about but nothing worth remembering. I would order it if I really wanted scallops some night. The third person had the braised pork shoulder that was pedestrian. It was something you'd expect out of a crockpot from an aunt who possesses moderate culinary talent. Desserts were delicious, but those aren't rocket science. Overall, Lucca did a lot of things right and not a lot of things wrong. Nothing was prepared poorly. The gnocchi is a special dish, and everything else ranged from serviceable to very good. This place seems consistent and solid. In addition, the prix fix format was priced very reasonably ($33 I believe), and the portions were sufficient. The wine by the glass options were severely-lacking. I don't think they had a single chianti on the menu, and I joked to our party that it was an Italian restaurant with a french wine menu. That part didn't make much sense to me, and I don't think the options were particularly well-matched to the food. In addition, there was no wine by course option for the prix fix. In closing, I'd say the restaurant moved us in and out with adequate service (the server's personality aside) and the food was solid. I would recommend it to others; just keep your expectations in line with the reasonable prices and don't expect the world. read more

The service was excellent. The three courses are perfectly timed and waiting staff is very knowledgeable about the ingredients in the dishes. However, the multiple times I've been there, I've noticed a great inconsistency in the quality of the food. It's coming to the point where if I am in a gambling mood I'll go there and see what I get. If I want a tasty consistently delicious meal, I will chose other options available in Des Moines. read more

This was my first time eating at Lucca. It is a very cool place to go for dinner. The meal was 4 courses. You get to pick the first three and for dessert they brought out the dessert of the night. The service was really good I got done with one dish and it only took 2 minuets before they brought out the next. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a really nice place to eat. read more

Went for special occasion. Have been before. Everything was OK but nothing was outstanding or spectacular. To start off we ordered a bottle of Chardonnay. There were only two on the menu (excluding the house wine) and they were both sold out. We had a Chard blend which was good but not what we wanted. Couldn't get a second bottle, sold out. The gnocchi appetizer... delicious. The risotto appetizer was al dente to the point of being hard. My wife's pork was dry but compliments to our waiter who brought a new plate even though my wife said she was fine. Our waiter didn't deliver our food initially but he noticed her plate "didn't look right". My scallops were fine as was the salmon. Everything was very good but again not special. None of the dishes were exceptional. We will go again as every thing was very good, service was great but maybe not with as high expectations. By the way, I wanted to give it 3 stars but had to go with my wife with 2 stars. It is a small "upscale" restaurant with limited menu and everything should be perfect. You should't run out of 3 different wines on a Saturday night or let food thats not "right" leave the kitchen. read more

For what you'll spend here, I can think of a dozen other places in Des Moines you should eat before going to Lucca. I've enjoyed Lucca in the past, but my last two experiences here have been less than acceptable. Gnocchi that was not even cooked (honestly solid dough balls that were extremely gummy) and in a "brown butter sauce" that was simply melted butter. Terrible. Amatriciana was quite good, with bits of bacon adding the requisite smokiness - something I'd order again for sure. Scallops were obviously tossed in a pan as opposed to searing on each side, and were overcooked and tough along with unappealing to look at. My steak was cooked properly, although there was little to no seasoning on it, as the potatoes it was served with had a lack of the promised gorgonzola cream. The panna cotta we ordered for dessert was good. Service was extremely awkward. read more

We visited this place with a another couple that were eager to try this place as it had recieved great reviews. To start off they did not have a cheese course and the explanation from the server was that they had moved all the cheese over to the pizza place they just opened up a block away. That was a little disappointing but the ambiance was fun and the company was great. You really can't look over the menu as there are no descriptions. you have to wait for your server to come to your table and explain all of that and then try to remember what sounded good when making your decision. The food was okay. I had the gnocchi followed by the skirt steak. It was alright. Nothing really to remember. As we were finishing our dinners suddenly we had live music. A guy on fiddle and someone playing a small guitar like thing wandering and playing through out the resturant. It was really loud so needless to say that ended the conversation and we paid our bill and left. read more

One of the best Italian meals I've had. Flavors were incredible and perfect. I opted for the 4 course meal for 40.00. That's a bargain for all the food you get. They leave nothing to be desired. Each course has plenty to choose from no matter what you would like to enjoy. I had the Beets,gnocchi and lamp polpette (curtesy of the restaurant since I couldn't decide) scallops on the third course were some of the best I've ever had. The place is perfect with a elegant and simplistic decor that's warm and clean. Service and timing were impeccable. Get here quick!!! read more

Risotto is amazing as is the bread. Steer clear of the beef and pork. Way overpriced for the quality. Really bland and tough, fatty meat.

Just left Lucca . The food was good. Our waiter was very patient and accommodating . Our biggest disappointment was that while finishing our meal we looked over and were able to see the prep cook at the stove and observed one of the ladies twice dropping food off a tray on to the floor and then picking it up off the floor then back into the pot! My friends and I were appalled! I then found the owner and told him what we saw. He thanked me and then immediately confronted the cooks. For the rest of the meal we received constant dirty looks from the chef. Regardless to say we could not wait to leave!I have worked in customer service and think this was handled poorly. The owner should have waited to confront the cooks after we left. Won't be back. read more

Lucca is always amazing. Never had anything that didn't impress me! You have to try it soon!

Our favorite restaurant - anywhere. Don't count on a lot of choices here on the menu but what is there is solid. This is our favorite restaurant to take people who are visiting Des Moines - they are always impressed. read more

Went to Lucca during restaurant week. Were sat immediately, ordered some wine and asked our server about the menu. She was very knowledgeable and recommended a few of the items on the four course pre fixe menu. Salads were decent, second course was the pasta which was exceptional. I had the cracked pepper pappardelle. Third course was very good as well, had the salmon. Dessert was ok, seemed like an afterthought but was stuffed from the first three courses. Lucca is always wonderful. read more

We were a group of eight for lunch. The owner greeted us at the door and took our orders while the staff prepared a big table for us at the back of the dining area. You sit in a large, loft-like room with exposed ducts and brick walls, high ceilings -- full of character. My Italian sandwich with imported meats, veggies and cheese, was the best of its type I've ever had. My wife had a terrific linguine. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed what they ordered. read more

We were lucky enough to pick Lucca for a nice, but hopefully not too lingering dinner while passing thru Des Moines on a cross country road trip on I-80. The gentrified area & contemporary design of the restaurant were an unexpected pleasure. The squash risotto lived up to its rave reviews, and our server was happy to allow us to split the 3-course menu, without an up-charge for plating it separately! We ordered an extra salad a la carte - mixed greens with pear & crumbled goat cheese - and the crisp glazed salmon and roasted Brussels sprouts lived up to expectations! Wish we weren't just passing thru, Lucca is worth regular return visits. read more

This is the second time I have been to Lucca. We went to celebrate a job offer and the staff at Lucca was very professional and knowledgeable. While the food was great, the service well paced, and the atmosphere nice, the kitchen was smokey and very hot. Despite the kitchen heat, this place is consistently one of the best restaurants I have been to and I will continue to visit in the future. read more

Pretty good all around. The cheese plate was very tasty. I don't eat meat and they offered a chef's choice pasta. It was good, but not great. The offer to make something not on the menu serves as a good example of what a chef should do and it was very appreciated. read more

We enjoyed this restaurant and will definitely go back again. The service was very prompt and professional. Everything about our meal was well timed so that our group could enjoy our company, wine and food at a leisurely pace. Overall our food was very good, and will be back to try other dishes. Our complaints: We ordered the cabernet sauvignon and was told they were sold out. Who is sold out of a basic wine on a Saturday night? They were also sold out of one of the first course selections. From other reviews, this appears to be a chronic problem. I would also note my roasted pork belly was overcooked read more

I have only ate here for lunch and I usually get the chicken sandwich with soup or a salad. I have not yet tried their pasta. My sandwich is always very good, it can be a little bland at times but thats just cause its not loaded with sauces and there is a lot of bread on the sandwich too which I don't mind because then I can dip it in my soup! But I would recommend trying their sandwiches for lunch, they are a little different but good! read more

I've only had a chance to visit Lucca once, but it might have been the best meal I have ever had! The menu changes constantly so it's a great place to visit again and again. It is a great addition to the up and coming East Villiage. read more

Amazing Italian meal. I'm from Indianapolis and wanted to find a great Italian restaurant with good atmosphere and quality food. Lucca's food is of amazing quality and I recommend it to anyone that looks for great Italian cuisine read more

Our first time there. First, the food was terrific. We had the goat cheese and the panzanella salad as starters. The goat cheese was coated and pan sauted served on a crustini and some greens. The panzanella was served on a toasted bagette slice which made for a nice match for the tomotoes and cucumbers. Both very flavorful. Our entrees were the salmon and scallops. Salmon pan sauteed and finished in the oven, served with leeks and peas, served with a delicious sauce. The four sea scallops were pan seared and served with mixed vegetables. Again, very well done. And well priced at $30 for each two course meal. So why not a better rating? Several things. First, as attentive as the service was (I love that anyone walking by who sees you need water or a plated removed will do so even if it's not their section), there are front of house issues that diminished our experience. The wine list is small, with only a few selections of each varietal. Wines by the glass are very limited. With that, our waiter couldn't offer any distinguishing characteristics when we asked about certain wines. There was no manager on duty that we could tell, and no sommelier. With wines that most people may not be familiar with from smaller producers or other countries, I expect the servers to offer at least basic info on what to expect. And with a small selection, they should be trained to help guide the diner. Oh,and we won't be willing to bring our own bottle with a $15 corkage fee. The dinner service was excruciatingly slow. It took an hour to be served our entrees. The restaurant was busy but not packed. Our waiter apologized several times that the "kitchen got backed up" but made no accommodation for our wait. Again, better training needed here. Talk about better training needed...I don't like watching the wait staff eat while I'm waiting for my dinner. Eat before service begins, but not during. One waitress had a plate of food she kept returning to near the kitchen. Not good. Finally, the piano player was a nice touch but he'd play for 10 minutes then take a 30 minute break. I'm not even kidding. When he isn't playing, the place could have used some nice jazz or blues being played on an in house system if they had one. Music is a nice addition to the vibe there. The restaurant has the main thing right...the food. But there's a lot that needs to be improved upon if they expect the whole experience to be as delicious as what comes out of the kitchen. read more

Went last night with my wife. Started with the gnocchi with sage and porchetta with capers. Then chicken risotto and chili. Main course was scallops and beef. This was a meal that we will talk about for a long time. Service was perfect and timely. We loved the idea of the limited and constantly changing menu. Atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening or a group to enjoy a bottle of wine and exquisite food. Truly a great find in DSM! read more

I was excited to try this place for lunch, but was disappointed when my sandwich arrived with a pile of shredded lettuce on it. I expected better. If I wanted a Jimmy John's quality sandwich I would have saved my money and gone next door. read more

First visit, hope to make it many more. Delicious lunch, very accommodating and even wished us a "Merry Christmas" on the way out!

Love their food, love their service. I would definitely suggest Lucca to anyone for any special occasions. I can't wait to come back!

Dined there last evening with four others and overall the experience was very good. Service was a tad spotty, starting with having to wait ten minutes for a table for 5 when the place was largely empty. Upon seating it took awhile to get drinks then to get explanation of the items on the menu. Our group shared our dishes so I got to sample several items and all were well prepared, starting with the brie and apple topped bruschetta - yummy, the liver and onions w/wine reduction - outstanding, the gnocchi - very good, and the salmon and scallops - outstanding. Chocolate cake for dessert was yummy up until the waitress took it away from the table prior to our being finished. I cannot speak to the sanitation concerns expressed by another reviewer but no one is feeling sick today so must have been ok. read more