Whoa! What just happened! That was the best Bolognese I've ever had -- from a literal hole-in-the wall with two employees. Where did all this talent come from?? You have got to try the pasta here, it is to die for and I guarantee you we'll see a lot more of Luce's chef in the future. Maybe a full-size pasta restaurant? By the way, this place is fast fast fast -- my food was ordered and ready in the time it took to wrap up a phone call with Mom. The only criticism I have is that the Bolognese was a touch too salty. I might ask the chef to hold back a bit next time. read more

This little place was such a treasure to find. This place is literally when people tell stories, about hole in the wall restaurant being amazing! This place was delicious. They do not have a lot of options but if you want to get really good pasta for pretty cheap then this is the place for you. Definitely check it out. I love downtown Charlottesville. You always manage to find little gems! read more

See all

I've been to Luce twice and now and both times I've been delighted. The cacio is delicious and don't let their containers fool you - it is a solid portion of pasta! On the second time around I got the spanakopita pizza & pasta. As a New England born and bred pizza lover it is part of my humble mission in life to seek, taste, and rate pizza wherever I go. Luce's pie was one of the best I've found in Charlottesville in the category of artisan. What stood out especially was the dough and crust. Precisely cooked with tasty charred ness only an oven with right heat can create. Will be back for this. Reasonably priced and unique curb appeal. To be honest I tried to go here several times before they changed their hours to be in the evening rather than afternoon. I am thankful because this more of a dinner vibe for me. Next up I cannot wait to try their innovative desserts- smores gelato anyone? COVID wise they are on it and will deliver your order to your car if you like. Very happy to add this to my list of goto Charlottesville spots ! read more

Omg love this whole concept! Perfect location for a to go pasta place. You can go walk around the mall area while munchin' on your cup of pasta. I love that they only have 3 options so its not overwhelming. I got the one with cracked pepper and parm. It only took a few minutes before I was presented with a decent sized portion of buttery homemade noodles. It was very simple yet delicious. I would highly recommend if you're looking for something quick to go in the Charlottesville area! read more

Luce - Little tiny kitchen and order window - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Great spot for quick delicious pasta and pizza, service has always been great as well easy 5*

A welcome addition to the downtown mall. This is a great spot no matter the occasion if you're into a great cup of pasta. I say cup because you'll be served in a to-go cup with lid. There isn't any seating so take it over and find somewhere to eat on the mall or walk it home. We tried it right away and we're thoroughly impressed by the bolo. We decided to take a 20 minute walk home and no change in flavor or consistency on the 2nd bite at home. At the price point you have no excuse to not try all three daily pastas with some friends. Look for the lights outside the small white and yellow shop. Also be prepared in how this is really just a storage closet that's been repurposed into a walk-up kitchen. read more

Luce - Cacio - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This was perhaps the worst pizza I've ever had. I ordered a Margarita pizza. The crust was almost raw, there were no fresh tomatoes on it, only globs of canned tomato sauce, the basil had been baked so it was black and slimy, and there was some tasteless cheese on it. And, it had a lot of garlic! Who puts garlic on a Margarita pizza? The dough was so raw that the whole thing was inedible. Unfortunately I ordered it to go so I didn't' discover all this until I got home. I was told that the pizza would take about 15 minutes and that it would be brought out to me. After about 40 minutes I went to the window to ask about it. The server pulled it out from a shelf and handed it to me. I said, politely, "Weren't you supposed to bring it out to me?" She said yes but she got slammed and just didn't do it. At the time there were four other customers there. Not exactly a crowd. If I hadn't asked I don't know if I would have ever been served. read more

You could walk by this little take out place without necessarily noticing it, but that would be a mistake. Because this little postage stamp sized shop is putting out some of the best italian food I've ever had. Their menu is a little limited, but every pasta dish I've tried here has been incredibly delicious. We tried the Cacio and the Bolo and both were very, very good, but what prompted me to come on here and write a rave was the Kale Salad. I've never, ever had Kale that was so delicious! Normally I'm a get the veggies out of the way kind of person who also likes to end on a bite of my favorite dish at the end of the meal. Their kale salad was so stinking good that I ended up eating my pasta first and saving the salad for the end. So if you're looking at the menu, and thinking you should get the kale salad because you've been promising yourself you'd eat more veggies but ... you don't want to because salads can sometimes be filled with sadness - trust me, you will not be disappointed with this salad. Oh! Also, try the family meals! They're a great deal and generously portioned! read more

Wow! Simple menu. Amazing, fresh flavors! Don't miss this spot if you're in the area! read more

Don't overlook the chalkboard menu and the walk-up ordering window and don't be fooled. This is fresh-made pasta with simple sauces that have robust, hearty and rich flavor. The pappardelle could have been naked and it still,would have been divine. Add the sauce and fresh grated Parmesan on top and it was a meal that my grandmother would have made in her old Italian kitchen. With picnic tables in the adjacent parking lot and parks all,around, this is a great grab and go meal or one to enjoy outside, with the warmth of the noodles filling your belly and soul. read more

After making the mistake of opening the door thinking it was a full on restaurant, only to see that it was the door to a small kitchen, I realized that it was actually a walk up a stand. I ended up getting the Cesar Salad which was served in a cute cup. At first I thought how messy it would be to eat from a small Cup but they chop the kale and other ingredients so fine that it's pretty easy to eat. It was very tasty, especially with the Parmesan and tomato Topping. I plan to try the pasta sometime. Only downside was that it was $10 for the small cup without protein. read more

Luce - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great spot, good food , quickly. Order from Crush Pad across the mall and get a great glass of wine while you wait.

The definition of a hole-in-the-wall dining. I had the hardest time locating the business and ran around in circles for a good 10 minutes. The food is absolutely amazing - we ordered 3 different pastas and my only regret is that I didn't grab a dessert. The pasta is SO fresh and the flavors are so rich! The cup looks small, but the portions inside the cup were surprisingly big. I think it's ideal to order in a group of friends and divide the different types of pasta so that you can get a taste of everything! read more

"I didn't know what you meant by a literal hole in the wall, until I walked in and saw there was only a guy with a pan" thats the report from the pick up of our yummy dinner. Amazing what a guy with a pan can do! We enjoyed the kale salad, cacio e pepi/bolo and a delicious cheesecake dessert. Highly recommend. Simple to order take out on the toast app. They texted us when it was ready. Everything was delicious - alas my kids weren't huge fans of the salad- kale is an interesting choice for a base- but with the dressing and tomatoes and brussel sprouts combo- it's is really good. read more

a nice hole in the wall spot.. with going a couple of times i say the food is good! id recommend to a friend. the staff is nice and helpful. read more

Luce - a bowl of pasta and a bowl of salad - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Wanted to love it but was really disappointed. The pasta we got for pickup was so oily it was truly inedible. A lot of money wasted on a multi person meal. On the plus side, my brother loved the tiramisu cheesecake read more

I am so glad I stopped for Luce's pasta! I've never noticed it before on the downtown mall but it's in a great location tucked in one of the side streets. I ordered the Bolo, which wouldn't have been my first choice, but seemed to have a good response. The pork Bolognese pasta was amazing, the portion looks small at first, but is actually a perfect size. The mint added a lot to the dish, but it still could have used a bit of a kick or spice in it. Overall, I would recommend stopping by Luce for some fresh pasta! read more

Luce - Bolo - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Luce is amazing! We always get their pastas delivered to Crush Pad because carbs are best served with good wine. My absolutely favorites are the Bolo (bolognese) and Pistou (spaghetti with shaved zucchini ribbons), which go oh so well with the kale caesar. Highly recommend for a casual dinner spot in Cville! read more

Found this little hole in the wall via yelp and word of mouth. Having travelled extensively to Italy, I have to say this place has amazing pasta. You can taste the freshness and quality in every bite. The menu is very limited but it's worth it to let them focus on making their dishes high quality. I tried the Bolo and was very happy with the portion and taste. The only negative is I wish they offered some red pepper flakes to top it and that the takeout container kinda takes away from the flavor a bit. Perhaps using a different size/ shape/ material container would help? Either way I was very satisfied with my food here. Worth the $11 read more

Luce - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

I tried this literal "hole in the wall" (very cute concept) for pasta and was pretty disappointed. The food was good, but the service left me unhappy. With such a small location there is no place to wait for your food to be ready, which is understandable. I ordered and the cashier told me it would be about 5 minutes. With the weather being well over 95 degrees, I wanted right across the street in the shade, well within sight and earshot of the cashier to let me know when my food was ready. After over 20 minutes of waiting in the heat, I went over to the counter to ask how much longer the wait would be and the cashier proceeded to hand me a bag that had been sitting on the counter the entire time I was standing there! Very frustrating. I then asked for a cup of ice water and she replied that "they don't do that here". Very disappointing experience. read more

Amazing place to get your pasta fix - I don't think you can go wrong with any of the flavors. I've tried the bolognese, the meatball fettucine, and the cacio. It's a perfect portion size, freshly cooked and perfectly al dente pasta, and amazing savory sauces. It'd definitely not the same as sitting down to a big hot dish of pasta at a restaurant, but honestly I'm a homebody so this place is perfect. Very reasonable prices, and super convenient during these COVID times. Check them out! read more

A promising spot, but the Bollo was a little bland. Also, the cups they serve the food in doesn't allow it to cool evenly, so it stays very hot a long time - great if you want to wait an hour to eat it but not so great if you want to eat immediately. A bowl with lid might work better on that front. read more

Luce - Bolo - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I absolutely love this place though it is a little expensive. Their pizza is very good along with their fettuccine pasta that I get every time. They don't have a inside but it always looks clean in there and the people are always nice. One thing that sucks a little bit is that they don't take cash which if you aren't a cash person there are no problems. read more

We return here again and again for the cacio e pepe pasta! Great pesto pasta too. One of our favorites in Charlottesville!

Honestly, this was the first time I've tried this place, and I was super disappointed. The price is very expensive for what you get. The pasta was decent, but we only got a small amount. It was also missing extra toppings that had been listed in the menu. Cheesecake had a nice pistachio crust, but it was entirely too thick to eat in one bite. I probably won't be going back based on the price. read more

Tried Luce for happy hour for the first time today. Was a chilly night, but the warm pasta and cold beer from Bistro hit the spot! The Lot also has outdoor heaters which was a nice touch. My wife and I were impressed with how fresh the pasta tasted, even if it is presented in a low frills paper cup! Will def be back to try all the pasta and pizza. read more

Travelled through a freak April snowstorm to Charlottesville yesterday, and a friendly local barista recommended this pick-up-only spot to a particularly tired and bedraggled version of me. Thank god she did. Ordered the pistou (spaghetti with shaved zucchini, Parmesan, tomato confit), kale Caesar salad, and cheesecake. Got back the hotel only to discover I had no utensils. Didn't care. Ate the entire thing with my fingers while watching Emily in Paris. A lovely ending to the day... read more

Probably some of the best pasta I've ever had. Had the caccio and a Margherita pizza. Everything came out piping hot, super fresh, and tasting amazing! read more

*Awesome* handmade pasta. Order early, they sell out quick. Pizza crust is on the thicker side - perhaps Sicilian-style? Also good if that's your jam. read more

Delicious food! I thought the portions would be too small but they are more than needed to be full. The pastas are all amazing but I highly recommend the garlic knots! read more

We have been wanting to try this place for a while but we're looking for a nice day because they only have outdoor seating and take out. Finally had a nice evening so we gave it a try. Pasta was delicious and the chef came out and spoke with us and was very friendly. Apparently, this is run by the same people who run Bizou and Bang, so now we want to try them too (that should tell you something about how good we thought it was.) Pasta is incredibly fresh and cooked perfectly. We had the pork Ragu pasta and the pasta with zucchini and tomatoes (can't remember the names but it's a very limited menu so you'll figure it out-- I had eaten half my pasta before I remembered that I needed to take a photo of it.) Definitely the best pasta I've had in a while! Prices were reasonable as are the serving sizes. Can't wait to go back to try the pizza. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious. We tried all five of the pastas and each one was scrumptious in its own way. Staff was very sweet and got our food in about 15 minutes. read more

Got some caci o pepe to go and it was outstanding. Can't beat the price and the quality of the food. This will be a must go every time we are in Charlottesville. read more

I could eat here everyday! I've come here a few times at the Lot outdoor seating area. Super quick and contactless service. I've gotten the Bola every time which is the pappardelle ragu. This is my fav type of pasta and they make it absolutely perfecttttt. Love!!! read more

Out of this world delicious! I cannot get over their gelato and fresh pasta, we honestly couldn't feel luckier to have this sweet spot in town! read more

Quick to go place if you're looking for fresh HOT pasta! Ordered outside and the food was ready within minutes. I ordered the Bolo which was rich and meaty. The pasta was cooked perfectly. I'm used to family size pasta plates so this 16 oz serving was just the perfect amount for lunch. Only thing missing were red pepper flakes which they did not have!!! read more

Luce - Hole in the wall type of place - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

The fresh pasta is really the draw to come here, probably the best pasta I have ever had. The sauce itself was good but nothing special.

Gentlefolk, affordable fast Italian is finally available on the mall and it is absolutely delicious. There's not a lot to say here, their menu is pleasantly limited and very focused. read more

Love their pasta. I've tried all three on their menu and I would recommend the bolo and the pistou. The Cacio is good too but because of the amount of butter in it, I feel like I need to eat something else in addition. The actual pasta noodles are delicious and chewy but not too mushy. The noodles in the pistou were a little past al denté but I think it's difficult to hit the ideal consistency with handmade spaghetti noodles. Wait time wasn't bad and the guy taking our order was very friendly and helpful. Definitely would recommend this place. read more

Really, really loved how fresh the pasta was here!! I look forward to coming back and trying some of the other items. The cacio was delicious, but very decadent it was hard to finish in one sitting with the amount of butter that was in the pasta. I really appreciate that fast service and honestly glad that they only had a few items to choose from. This adorable hole in the wall place is serving up delicious fresh handmade pasta. The bite was perfectly al dente and creamy! I was so satisfied and was actually so full from my meal! read more

Luce - Take away ordering station and menu - Italian Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all