I pleasantly surprised. The sandwich i had was thr best I have had moving to Illinois. Great menu

Great place on the Route 66 path in downtown Bloomington, IL. It smelled great before we ever got inside. Seated right away, great service! We ordered the Barber Shopper pizza - the crust was so light it was almost like a laminated pastry crust. Paired it with a side salad with the house made Italian and blue cheese crumbles! read more

Lucca Grill - Above the bar - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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I found this divey Italian place through YELP! I'm thankful that someone mentioned that reservations were needed for Sunday evening. Parking is just awful around here. The lot across the street is in repair and had tons of garbage bags all around it. Ok. Now on to the cusine: My husband ordered their Italian beef sandwich Mozzarella and with homemade chips . It was underwhelming. The beef looked thin and dried out, but my husband still ate it...lol I enjoyed my shrimp and pasta ..even though it had lot of parsley in it. We got a grilled chicken sandwich to take back to our room for later... read more

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Not sure if we just came at a bad time but we didn't enjoy this place as much as we wanted to. We came in right before 4 and got sat down even though we didn't have a reservation (which we didn't know we needed AND the place was practically empty). At first it seemed really nice until our server came by. Amy didn't have a great attitude, or maybe she just didn't like us. Because when she was talking to her coworkers she was smiling but with us, not even a grin. She was pretty cold and even let our food visibly sit in the window while she was just sweeping the floors. It's not like they were busy, most of the staff was just standing around. She also basically threw napkins on the table like it was an inconvenience for her, which is wild because it's the easiest thing to bring to a table. Once we got our food, it just wasn't that great. I paid extra for cheese on my Italian beef and literally got crumbs. The au jus also was filler to the brim with pepper. My friend got a meatball sub which looked very unappetizing and had barely any sauce. She couldn't even eat it. Amy never even cared to ask if it was good or not. The only nice thing was the manger did come by at the end to check on us. We didn't even feel like mentioning our server because she was right there and would hear everything. Plus we didn't want to be super rude because it was a small establishment. The only time I leave these kind of reviews is when the server is disappointing because I'm a server myself. We really wanted to love this place. Hopefully the next experience is different. read more

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We love this place! Atmosphere is iconic Italian restaurant vibes. Always hopping with great energy. Service is consistently amazing and the food is incredibly delicious. read more

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Had a good lunch at this classic bar and grill in Bloomington. It has been here a long time and certainly looks like it. Lucca Grill is known for its pizza. Crispy traditional thin crust full of flavor. There's also of course the good drinks as well as the rest of the food menu. Came here a few times earlier. It's a pretty busy place if you go later. They're especially busy in the evenings and weekends. Has mostly seats at the bar. There's only a few tables. Has some good older beers. It's $2 for cans of Stag. Beer goes good with a pizza of course. It's about $13 for a small. Last time we got the Prima Veggie Special. Basically has all the vegetables on it. There's black olives, green olives, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, pepperoncini, and tomatoes. Good place to get some hearty Italian-American food. It's located on East Market Street at East Street. The menu has options for meat eaters and vegetarians. read more

Lucca Grill - Stag And Prima Veggie Special - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Wonderful ambience. Feels like old Chicago. Great staff with attentive welcoming service. Pizza is thin and crispy, with not much sauce. My wife likes it but I didn't care for it. Their Alfredo sauce is awesome and homemade. I got the Cannelloni and it was good but next time I'll try the Fettuccini Alfredo plus Chicken. My sister in law got the lasagna and she loved it. I tried some of the meat sauce and it was fine. I also tried some of the Marinara sauce that came with the Mozzarella Sticks and it was alright. Unfortunately the mozza sticks were not homemade. My wife got the Pinot Grigio and it was a bit too sweet. Next time she'll try their California Sauvignon Blanc. I got an Amber Ale and it was fine, but next time I'll get a Lager. read more

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Unbelievable food and atmosphere. Best chicken parm I've ever had and the pizza is incredible. The service is amazing and it's obvious that there is a lot of pride in the restaurant and history. If you are debating on where to eat, end the debate and go. read more

We stopped in on a Saturday, later afternoon, without reservations. We were immediately given a table. Everyone was so nice. Jenni was our server and she was exceptional. My husband had lasagna and I had a gluten free pizza. Both were so good. We loved the people, the ambiance and the food! We will be back and will definitely make reservations if we are going any later in the afternoon or evening. read more

Lucca Grill - A portion of the bar area. - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Cozy old school pizza place. There's a reason they've been open almost 100 years and it's the amazing pizza! The A La Baldini pizza, typical supreme toppings, was delicious with nice crispy thing crust. There's lots of seating along the bar, but not too many tables, so I'd recommend a reservation during busy lunch/dinner times. read more

Lucca Grill - A La Baldini pizza - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Absolutely delicious! We needed a pit stop for lunch while on our long adventure to Mt.Rushmore, and we decided to stop in Bloomington. We found Lucca thanks to a travel channel we subscribe to on YouTube, and he has visited the restaurant. The inside was neat with all of the college flag (extra kudos for having my university). The food was so good! I had an amazing Italian beef sandwich- best I've had in a long time. My fiancé had the Italian sandwich and really liked it. We also had the spinach dip- it came with some house made fried chips. What I also loved, was the soda options. RC, Diet Rite, I've not had that in years. Service was also great, we aren't from the area so the waitress answered my questions about some of the foods I was unfamiliar with, she was super nice. I would definitely recommend to anyone heading to, or through Bloomington! read more

After many recommendations we had to stop in here before we went and watched Bison Hockey You have to make a reservation same day as they only have about 12 tables and bar seating but it's definitely worth it. All the sports memorabilia is cool to look at from over the years. The food was great. The gluten free pizza crust is the best i have had some I had to go gluten free. The chicken strips were killer Im not sure what they do to them but it's delicious! The kitchen and pizza oven are all in the bar area with you. The server was super friendly. Our bill was very reasonable as well. The owner came and sat with us I think bc he noticed our hockey apparel which was pretty cool and had a chat about hockey. We love local places like this! Definitely support this gem in the neighborhood we will be back next hockey game in town. read more

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3.5 Stars We stopped here on our way to Chicago. No-nonsense kind of place. Hub had "two tubes of pasta with sausage and cheese stuffed in it" and stated "everything seemed home made." I had the required sausage combo sandwich and enjoyed it. The ambiance is a little bit of old Italian meets sports fan. Service was great. Place has been around since 1936 and going strong. read more

Lucca Grill is my all-time favorite restaurant in Bloomington, Illinois. It has the best pizza and Italian entrees in town. It's historic atmosphere adds to the ambience of a delightful dining experience. I make it a "must" dining spot whenever I pass through Bloomington. It has been high on one of my favorite places since I was a student at Illinois Wesleyan University in the 1960's. read more

Review Visit: May 16th, 2016 Lucca Grill was lookin' pretty good on this day. "There's a dumbwaiter over there," I remember saying to my girlfriend as we sat down with the menus. She looked really confused as that is a very confusing thing to hear in a pub. But, sure enough, there indeed was a dumbwaiter in Lucca Grill. Or what appears to be a dumbwaiter. You can see it below, if you are interested. Now, that the dumbwaiter is used for, I'm not sure. I did see our waitress interact with it but I can't tell if it was used for a storage spot or something else. Anyways, my girlfriend and I decided to spend the day in Bloomington and check out a few things. What we didn't have planned was food. Sometimes we go somewhere with one place in mind and figure it out from there. That is how this day was. We sat in the car, decided we wanted burgers, used Yelp and Google for suggestions, and debated places. Lucca Grill had good reviews and the photos on Yelp looked great. This might shock you but that is what we picked for our lunch destination. Aside from the dumbwaiter, the other thing that stands out about this visit is the location. I am not intimately familiar with Bloomington/Normal but I've been there enough to get around with some minor help with GPS. There was something about Lucca that I just didn't register. Something about it being near the corner of a business block and there being some one-way roads really through me off. After having to circle back around, we parked alongside the road and walked the short distance to our food destination. We both ordered what we came here for. Burgers and french fries. When the waitress brought our food out to us, we didn't say thank you because our stomachs were rumbling so loud at the mere sight of the food. Wasted no time, did we when it came to digging in. The burgers were presented 'open-face', so we had to assemble it before we got to chowing. The food looked great on the plate. The food smelled great. Did it taste great? It was pretty good! I will admit the burger was just a little bit dry and just a little bit lacking on flavor, but it still packed a punch in spite of that. Each bite was delightful and mixed with the crinkle cut french fries, it was pretty much everything we were looking for but not anything more. This would definitely be one of my go-to places for a casual lunch with friends if I lived in the area. Bar food is some of the best food and Lucca meets those expectations quite well. read more

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On the advice of a hotel clerk we decided to try Luca Grill We are very glad we did. Seating was limited ( reservations only) so we sat at the bar. Service, atmosphere , food & price were all great! As good as the photos are they tasted even better. Great hole in the wall place! read more

Lucca Grill - Great cheese garlic bread! - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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I love this place! Great food, great service, and such a wonderful local vibe. I have not had a bad experience here, and I look forward to continuing to enjoy this local gem. read more

A visit to Bloomington/Normal isn't complete without a stop at Lucca Grill! We started with the fried pepper jack cheese curds. Then my husband couldn't wait to have the Baldini pizza - his favorite. I enjoyed a side salad first then a pepperoni and mushroom pizza. Everything was delicious. The service was a bit slow, but we weren't in a hurry. The ambiance hasn't changed over the years and it makes the history of the restaurant part of the experience. read more

Lucca Grill - Baldini pizza - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Fantastic people and ambiance. The place was packed when we walked up on a very cold January evening. The owner promised us a spot at the bar would open and it did right away. They couldn't have been lovelier. The food was very good. Tavern pizza at its finest. read more

We will definitely return to Lucca's the next time we are in Bloomington! The food was wonderful and the service was very good.

Food and service was outstanding. Got there just before they got busy. Went on a weekday thinking it wouldn't get to crowded. It got full pretty quick. read more

I was on my way back to St. Louis from a fishing trip to Wisconsin and remembered what a great pizza I've had here before. Great atmosphere, great staff and oh, GREAT PIZZA. Had to stop read more

Stopped here on a road trip. Cool, historic building, and the business has been here for 80 years. The inside is eclectic and fun with all of the memorabilia on the wall. They cook the pizzas right out in the open at the front of the restaurant, and the sandwich grill is right behind the bar. It was busy at 630 on a Sunday evening, so we sat at the bar. The bartenders were very sweet (even with as busy as they were) and attentive. I got the baked ziti, which came with bread. It was very good. It wasn't fancy, by any means, but it was a hearty and tasty meal. Very reasonably priced. The portion wasn't huge by American standards, but I still had some leftovers for lunch. My husband got the Italian sandwich, which came with chips, and he loved it. Again, nothing fancy, but a good sandwich at a great price. Looks like this place is very popular with the locals, so there may be a wait in the evenings. If you're looking for food like your mom makes (hearty, delicious, not fancy), this is your place. Highly recommend. read more

Lucca Grill - Baked ziti - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Fun ambience. Old school vibes. The sandwiches were just ok. Pretty tasty but not the hot Italian or Italian beef I was looking for. The hot Italian had no heat to taste and the beef was boring. Giardnerra was really mild. Chips were good. Bread was good. I'll have to try the pizza someday. Worth the stop! It seemed like a popular lunch spot on Wednesday afternoon. Only 1 table available. Good service! read more

OMG, this pizza!!!! I will happily drive hours to get it. Super service, and this is an authentic place. I will continue to patronize this establishment. There is a parking lot out back, so easy in/out parking as well. read more

Food was alright. Was expecting more given a place that is historic in the area. Fried raviolis tasted like they were microwaved. Outside edged were pretty tough. Too many as well just for 2 people. Caesar salad was WAY too big of a serving for one person. And that was supposed to be a "side salad" It tasted good though. Main entree which I got Alfredo was fairly good. Sauce needed some love. Tasted bland. Portion was good! Upstairs needs some live aesthetically. And out table was lop sided I think cause of the floor? read more

This is a real institution in Bloomington - been around for nearly 100 years, and it's always been a great place for friends to get together for good food and drink. A lot of delicious things on the menu, but you can't go wrong with the A La Baldini pizza. Perfect thin crust -- loaded with ingredients yet doesn't fall apart in your hands, and the square-cut approach gives a delightful variety of pieces. The staff is very friendly. read more

Lucca Grill - A La Baldini pizza - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

The food, service and ambiance are wonderful. They are masters at coordinating seating to feed the masses while making you feel like you have all the time in the world to dine. There's something on the menu for everyone, but I always choose pizza or pasta. This is one of my favorite places to eat when in the area. read more

Really tasty pizza. My colleagues liked the fried liver.(Hard pass here ) Excellent service. Not quite sure why they had a small TV in the second floor dining room playing the Family Guy at dinnertime but this is central Illinois. I'll definitely visit again. Downstairs seemed a bit more cozy and crowded. read more

Lucca Grill - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Pizza is amazing. Love the vibe from all the years they have been making pizza. Service is good. But they get busy so make a reservation! read more

The vegan pizza was to die for!!!!!!!! People are very friendly. Great place, will definitely recommend.

Lucca Grill has a great vibe and pretty delicious food to match. Located in downtown Normal, Illinois, this restaurant has been around for a long time, and it proudly displays pictures and beer signs from it's storied history throughout the small, but comfortable space. You're greeted when you walk through the door by an employee preparing pizza right in the front window. It's a pretty cool first impression. Our waiter Mitch greeted us promptly and was super friendly and efficient. He asked if any of us had been there before. In our party of six, I was one of two of us that had. The four others in our group were newbies. He smartly recommended their pizza, which is very reminiscent of a Chicago style, cracker crust thin pizza that has been deliciously prepared, and of course, cut into squares. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer - as it was listed as one of their house specialties. The chips they serve with this appetizer were basically deep-fried pieces of their pizza crust dusted with some parsley, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. The dip was delicious, but I could've eaten a whole basket of those chips. My wife and I split a thin crust sausage, pepperoni and mushroom pizza. Again, being from Chicago, this reminded us of home. One of our guests got the baked ziti, and she commented that it was also delicious. Two others got spaghetti with meat sauce. Very traditionally prepared. Reasonably priced and very delicious as well. If you are find yourself in downtown Normal, and you're looking for a great, old world place to eat... You can't beat Lucca's. read more

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The food was amazing The service and atmosphere was off the charts We were welcomed and constantly asked if there was anything else that we needed The ant tray was like something I've never had before and had great flavors The pizza was thin crust great Go here read more

I called ahead for a table for 2 on a Monday night. Happy I did because the place was full and I felt we got an extra special table in the back. The server was quick and friendly. The food was very good. We both ordered a pasta dish and an order of garlic bread. Don't miss out on that bread! I loved the historic vibe of the place. Next time I'm in Bloomington I will definitely get the pizza. read more

Lucca Grill - Cute interior - Pizza Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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Lucca's is a great time and the pizza is amazing. I recommend reservations, call after 9:30 the day of. It's a great neighborhood bar that is an iconic destination! read more

So some friends of mine who are blono locals told me I had to try this place is I wanted pizza. So me and a buddy went here we got mozzarella sticks, Al baldini pizza and drinks. I got a stag beer since this is one of the few places I've seen this beer served. The mozzarella sticks seemed like something you got from the frozen section at the supermarket, nothing special there. Don't get me wrong mozzarella sticks are still great even if it's from Walmart.... The pizza was super thin which was a nice new experience. However the flavor wasn't mind blowing. The pizza was pretty pricey for the amount you got around 25 dollars for a large. As a Chicago native I've had better pizza but I've had worse pizza. I would say this place is a decent option but not worth going out of your way for. read more

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One of the best thin crust pizza's I've had. Went back & had spaghetti & meatballs. Was going to go back on my visit but they were closed to redo their floors Vey good! read more

Pizza is phenomenal. Arguably the best pizza in town. Great spot with great people. Get the baldini or just a sausage pizza. Can't beat it. read more

Great Italian restaurant. Truly the best "thin" crust pizza I have eaten. Cozy seating and excellent wait staff. Good variety of beers and nice drink menu. I would highly recommend stopping in and enjoying a pizza or one of their other menu item so. Limited dessert menu. Good, free parking across the street. read more

I always enjoy a stop at Lucca Grill. The thin crust pizza is terrific and a Bloomington-Normal tradition, but I had the Italian Beef sandwich this stop. Excellent. Decent portion size and the dipping sauce was terrific. I had the mac and cheese as a side ... again, very good. The decor and ambiance is what sets Lucca apart. read more