First let me start off by saying I've been to this restaurant a total of five times I've given it another review and it was great, with that being said the last few times I've been here has been a complete disappointment the food flavor texture and everything presentation all great but what you get for the money has completely gone down last time I had a steak it was nice and thick and juicy it was big ribeye this time I had a thin piece of meat that was still good but nothing like the first two times that I was there end it wasn't just my cut of meat a couple we were with ordered the same thing and all of us got the same piece of meat. Ordered the scallops risotto only received four scallops for $32?? Really After four meals two appetizers and $250 later we all went out about an hour later to get something to eat at another establishment. The fourth time we went I thought it was maybe just a bad day for the place I'm always willing to give the benefit of the doubt but after two meals in a row just like this I'll never return We've been going there since last year and if I didn't call two or three weeks ahead of time on a Saturday for a reservation it was an hour and a half to two hour wait, there was nobody waiting on this Saturday and I got reservations the day before I'm starting to think that everybody else is realizing the same thing read more

First ordered a cocktail and it was made perfectly. Salad had greens with arugula and the croutons were made of polenta, cooked perfectly. Not too much crunch and cons of flavor in the dressing was just wonderful. I had beef tips baked mashed potatoes and a vegetable and everything was just wonderful. The gravy was just right the beef tips were nice and tender and full of flavor. Couldn't say enough about the service, very attentive without being annoying. read more

Great Middletown restaurant! Steak for 2 is very good and super consistent ( 4 years ) of going for it. Now the wife doesn't eat meat and have been very happy trying all the other dishes. Nice ambiance, great staff, and good food! Nuff Said read more

This is only the second time I've been here in probably a decade and I don't know why. The staff is over 5 stars. They are professional, kind, courteous, make eye contact and know the food and wine menus inside and out. We were a party of four with a child and our waiter (I wish I got his name) was amazing. The food was perfect for everyone, no complaints at all. Love that the lunch menu offers entrees and sandwiches as well. We will definitely be back more often. read more

krystle takes great care of us, lilly was so helpful and Elcho kept an eye on everything. a very nice place to relax.

The food was excellent, but our service was terrible. The waiter was nice, when we saw him. We never got a bread basket, our drinks were never refilled, he never asked how our meal was until we were finished, and then we had to flag him down for a desert menu. Did I mention the restaurant was nearly empty? If you want good food and don't mind being ignored, then this is the place for you. read more

Everything was perfect. Great service. Love the free and easy parking. I enjoyed the steak salad special with figs and watermelon. It was delicious. Will go back again for sure. read more

This was the first time we've been to Luce, Friday night we sat outside, was a bit dark out there they could use some lights. I ordered the special Sea Bass with Risotto which was delicious and a cucumber Martini which was the best Martini I've ever had. There wasn't enough food on my plate, I was still hungry which never happens to me I usually take home a to go container because I can never finish. There was hardly any Risotto on my plate the the fish was probably less than 3 ounces. Not sure I'd go there again. read more

We found the food okay but left feeling hungry. There was not a lot of food for the price and I'm not a big eater. I usually go home with a doggie bag. Everything was an extra and pricey. I don't mind paying for something that I can't get at home. The food was fairly basic. The atmosphere was very nice. Did not feel rushed. It was good for conversation. Sue and Pete East Hampton read more

We always have our company Christmas party here and the food and service is great. I've had something different each time I've come here and I've never been disappointed. It is pricey but worth it. read more

We hosted our son's wedding rehearsal dinner at Luce. It was a phenomenal experience from beginning to end! It is evident that Sammy Bajraktarevic's passion is to provide his customers with a culinary experience that they won't forget! Sammy's guidance in the menu planning and and flexibility in meeting our needs were second to none! Our guests are still talking about the magnificent dinner that was served by his courteous and attentive staff. My only regret is that we live so far away and can't visit Luce on a regular basis! read more

I was just scouting the place and parked to check out what the place is like; and they put a sticker on my side window which honestly hinders me from driving. I couldn't even peel it easily and it's just stuck there. I didn't even a sign that says I can't park there. I was gonna bring my business there but yeah bad welcome. So it's a shitty experience from the beginning so I don't expect anything great from this place. I wish they can pay for whatever service I need to do with my Audi just to heyget rid of this sticky mess that's left on my window. read more

I really like this place and every time I go the food is fresh the wait staff is friendly and even though it's not cheap it's well worth the costs. Try the steak salad it's very good! And the lamb is like nothing I've tasted... excellent!! The place always seems packed but I've never waited long for a table and the atmosphere inside is very relaxing. read more

One of the Best Restaurants In CT and I've been here in CT almost 60 years. Luce's is constantly upping its game and it had no need to. Since the day it opened it has a stellar high end offering of Wines and Drinks all reasonably priced, you will pay for a seriously outstanding bottle of wine that is hand picked for you by the owner if you ask but it will be worth it. Luce's has both a fabulous bar area and amazing Food Selection, all fresh and creative! Whether Fish, Duck, Italian Pasta Dishes, or the Daily Specials of Appetizers to Entrees to Desserts, this place is outstanding. I have never had a "soggy" anything here or anything over spiced or dry. The Staff is always eager to please and Love to make you feel at home and Welcome, they go out of their way on Special Occasions like Birthdays or Anniversaries, Etc. Just let them know. I've probably had dinner here seriously, 50 times. Normally evenings are Quiet Interior and great for Romantic quiet evening out or just a nice place to unwind and enjoy a great meal. Sidewalk Bistro Area is opened up Spring through Fall when weather permits and it is a nice way to enjoy the great weather while still getting a fantastic meal. Definitely put Luce's on your list. You won't be sorry. read more

rude inattentive staff, overpriced for food that is hit and miss, maître d cannot be bothered to even be polite.

I am currently at Luce and would never do this however I am so offended by the awful service I have received. Three different Luce employees came over and tried grabbing my card out of my hand to pay my bill, (my friend and I literally just received the bill and I have not got the chance to touch it!), I literally told the second person to stop, and that it feels like we are getting kicked out, her face went blank. Less than a step away from us, another guy came over and took my card from my hand and the black pamphlet the bill is in- still not a second to look at it! I am furious and will never come back here again! If they are only out for making the money and not letting patrons enjoy, this is not the place for me! read more

I recently went to Luce's for dinner with some old friends of mine who live in that area. When we walked in we were immediately approached and welcomed to the restaurant. We were going to sit at a dinning table but at the last minute opted for the bar. The setting was great! I ordered the calamari to start and it was cooked perfectly. For dinner I had their sea bass special, and it was cooked phenomenally! I was originally going for something off the menu but the bar tender, Cindy, sold me on their fish special and I'm so happy I trusted her opinion! The service was great, everything came out in a timely manner, she was so pleasant, made us feel so welcomed, and entertained! She made me a "special" MaiTai and it was amazing... dangerously amazing! :) All of our drinks that both her and the other bartender made were done perfectly. I'm not from the Middletown area but I do plan on going back to Luce's when I come to visit every couple weeks! I absolutely recommend it for anyone who has the opportunity to go!! read more

This is my first review and I was so upset I had to do it. My friend and I stopped in after a movie. The waitress was good (in the beginning) but after our food was almost gone and my friend went to use the restroom the big push was on to get us out. They took our plates even though we were snacking. Then upon my return they had taken everything, brought the check but we had to yell to get our waitresses to take the check. The food was good but the service, snotty looks and the way they treat their customers is not worth the trip. ..... read more

Last Saturday evening my wife and I enjoyed another fantastic dinner at Luce. The restaurant was very busy and we had decided to eat at the bar. Arenita and Liza are fantastic and delivered an expert cocktail. The Veal Scallopine and the Pasta special with baby clams was amazing. Give this place a try and I am sure you will go back again and again. Bob W, Portland CT read more

I want to like it, but it never comes up to expectations. Brandy was served in a whisky glass. Steak is always stoked salty.

Tried this out for date night, and really enjoyed it! You have to try the cheese sampler , it was amazing. We each had great food ( pork, seafood). This is a nice restaurant but still very casual and comfy read more

Saturday Evening; Dinner a Luce. Very good service. Nice atmosphere. Quiet. One got the Duck 2 ways. He enjoyed it. 3 of us got Veal Scalloppini & shrimp w/mushroom, tomato, capers & /brandy . It was very good. The sauce didn't WOW me but it was tasty. I thought the prices were very reasonable. read more

We were a party of 7 dining today at about 12:00 for lunch. We had attended a funeral and came here based on the "good" reviews. It's a nice place with ample parking. We were seated street side by a window. Based on the reviews we had kind of high expectations. As it turns out, the food was mediocre and so was the service! I never really saw the waiter refill anyone's water glass the whole time we were there. The oil served with the bread looked nifty, but was tasteless, I've had waaay better at places like the Bertucci's chain. The plates, tablecloths, silverware , etc. are nice, but the food is average. The prices are reasonable, at least for lunch. Actually, the prices are great because you can drop your gym membership! The reason is...you're gonna' spend an hour or more swatting flies away from your food. It was very annoying, plus it always brings up the cleanliness factor, because I didn't see a sign outside that said there was a "Fly Convention" here. On a final note, the desserts were decent and attractively plated. It's a shame, it could be a nice place with better help, and an exterminator. Either you are upscale or not. This place screams chain, chain, chain.... read more

I made an early reservation for dinner at Luce. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon so we decided to sit at the patio, surrounded by the blooming flowers. For appetizer we ordered oysters that were fresh and very tasty. Our soup De Poison was full of seafood chunks and even it was a bit salty it was still delicious. For main course we had Lucy combo, which was excellent. So if my rating had to be based on the food, it would be 4 starts. But unfortunately it is also based on the service received. After our waitress took orders, my girlfriend asked - "What is wrong with the waitress, is she having a bad hair day???" Well, that's not cool, not cool at all. My free advice to you, young lady, if indeed you had a bad day, is to put a smile on your face even if you don't feel like it. Please, when asking customers about their meals, change the tone of your voice so at least you give an impression that you care. We all have bad days but you are at work, attending to customers who come to enjoy a nice atmosphere and an excellent meal. After all we leave behind $$$. That's not classy at the classy place.... by the way, it was Thursday, 4 PM so no excuse that the place was extremely busy.... We will not be back. read more

so my big and i were actually on our way to esca. it was probably one of 5 times throughout our entire relationship that we both agreed on being in the mood for italian. it's just not something we normally go for. it was a saturday night, this past in fact, and whilst looking for parking we pulled into the lot that (unbeknownst to us) strictly for luce. (BONUS) at that point-with both of us starving, we grabbed a-free, off-street- spot and made our way to the door. the place was absolutely packed..not a seat at the bar..not one vacant table. being a long time industry person, i sheepishly approached the host stand and was greeted promptly even though it was clear that everyone was busy. a point for luce. we were seated within 5 minutes, watered and given bread within moments. another point for luce. they had oil on the table, olive oil infused with all sorts of yummy herbs, etc. very good. homemade touches like that go a long way with me. anyone can throw olive oil on the table. my personal preference is to add in some freshly grated cheese but didn't take issue with this. it was kind of disappointing not to be offered sparkling/still, as i would have opted for sparkling, but not a huge issue. we did offer a split of ferrari rose to start. it was a $30. there was no presentation..it was just poured, and he kept the cork. for which we asked back. not a deal breaker. our server was adorable. attentive but not over bearing. we ordered the polenta dusted diver scallops off the first course section of the menu..phenom! well balanced flavors, perfectly cooked, tender and sweet. i feel compelled to mention that they were also offering escargot as a first course (one of my faves, not one of hers)! we split the bone-in rib eye for dinner. the menu stated that it was accompanied by complimentary vegetable hash, which I was very excited about, but it ended up coming with broccoli and baby potatoes. i don't have a single criticism about the food. the steak was one of the best i've had, and i've been around the steak block a few times, if ya know what i mean as full as we were from licking. the. plate. clean. we were wanting a little sweet and normally would have done an espresso, a cognac, and a dessert. and the dessert menu was indeed enticing..but we were so hot by the end of the meal it was uncomfortable. we grabbed the bill, took a selfie with our darling montenegrin server and called it a night. we will definitely be back! read more

Time and time again Luce and their staff goes above and beyond what is expected. If you decide to sit at the bar and have a few drinks, their bar menu more than exceeds anything in the area. The chicken sausage with caramelized onions is amazing. Not to mention any of the paninis.. The raw bar is acceptional. The mussels are fresh and sweet. The shrimp cocktail is so good. Their menu is great..Any dish would satisfy your deepest craving. Before you order please hear their specials..Last time we went I enjoyed the Veal Osso Bucco. So perfectly cooked and tender. The palenta was spot on. My wife enjoyed the Veal Chop with Gorgonzola Mash and Green Beans with their Rosemary Reduction and loved it. Among the high point at the table was the Dover Sole. I had the opportunity to taste this and thought it was simply outstanding, Table side deboning is the kicker. Service is always top notch. Do your self a favor and visit LUCE! read more

I helped organize a retirement lunch for a co-worker. I spoke several times with Sam to plan this event. I cannot stress enough how great he is to work with and how easy! Everything was just perfect-food was incredible, everyone got at least two helpings (buffet style lunch). The staff are unbelievably attentive and helpful. I highly recommend this place for group gatherings. We have been there several times for other functions and it is always superb-soup to nuts! Thank you for making this a luncheon to remember! read more

A prize located on Main Street, even has its own carpark. Heaven. I've now visited several times and must compliment the bar staff for preparing consistently good drinks at reasonable prices. Too many restaurants in town charge more without getting a good balance in the stir. The lounge staff aims to please. A good spot for either a light dinner or something more substantial. Visiting NEW YEARS, one gets a PARTY vibe different than what is characteristic to the restaurant on non-celebratory nights, but when the restaurant hops; it hops, holiday time or not. When its quieter, the lounge atmosphere is generally respectful and again, barkeeps like Allison who remember the drink you like and how to prepare it, are awesome representatives of a good dining experience. I enjoy their Caesar salad which is not 'over-sauced' with big slices of romano-parma. And for those who love EVO, I usually drizzle more atop. I've enjoyed their lightly batter fried calamari. Crispy, not terribly oversalted, sauce on the side. They are spot on. So let's return to last night. What a bonus to find DOVER SOLE on the menu. This is the genuine ENGLISH fish. Having spent decades in England with my British husband, I enjoyed it there, but finding it in CT is pricey and rare indeed. I was prepared to pay $$$, and indeed I did. The experience of it all was grand. Sammy presented it to me at the bar counter where he promptly de-boned the beauty. For me it was a zen experience, although I found myself controlling salivation as he pushed away the ends of the fish, split the whole fish, then to remove its skeleton. All done so adeptly that it felt as if I was watching a preparation at a Japanese Steak emporium. This fish was buttery sweet. Dover Sole is a delicate lightly flavourful fish. Inherent to it when prepared with an adept chef, is the fall apart quality as it melts into every single taste bud. A profusion of texturally noble sea meat to which I added a bit of lemon, to bring out more sweetness. Accompanying the fish was a black truffle risotto. Instead of kale, I requested a light salad. All yummy. A gorgeous fish rather quickly dispatched. Yes, DOVER SOLE is served WHOLE, for those who are not privy to the skivvy. I omitted starters & dessert but sipped a cappuccino to round it out. A meal fit for a king and a king's ransom. Not everyday fare unless one is a well-endowed diner, but worthy of accolades for its goodness. I am grateful to have been able to visit last night. A quick note about the lounge. Most of us are friendly and happy to be included in conversation. But there are reminders that where there are drinks, there are those who inappropriately do act out towards others at party times. I only patronize restaurants in which I am comfortable seated at the bar solo. I enjoy bar buzz, but require respect. It can't be expected for management to monitor outbursts at the bar area, but it ought to be a safe haven for a single woman. Difficult to determine the nature of relationships, yet a barkeep might ask a loud reproachful person to 'tone it down'. Alas, all staff, utre busy last night; a manifestation of the night, I guess. I look forward to my next visit. I commend the proprietor of this lovely restaurant for consistently delicious cuisine and for welcoming new diners. Its in Middletown. Who would have thunk it? read more

My boyfriend and I LOVE Luce. The menu is small, but it is typical for a fancy restaurant. The food is delicious - I love the scallops and my boyfriend always goes for the steak. Fabulous service - they even have wheat bread they can bring out and always save some for us when we come in. The drinks are expensive and not very strong, so go for wine or beer instead. read more

we had a party of 8 for dinner for my nephew's graduation weekend from wesleyan university. this restaurant fit the bill. it was quite good. the food couldn't have been better and the service was good. the tables are tightly placed together, so much so that it was difficult for 4 of our party members to get into their seats, one person had to climb over the other chairs - literally - because the table was shoved so close to the wall. It is a rather large restaurant and they did fill up, but sometimes you do need to give up on a table so the other tables can be comfortable with their accommodations. things were just a little too tight to make sense. expensive but good food. maybe another night that is not so crowded would make the table experience a bit more pleasant. read more

My wife and I decided on a whim to try Luce. Neither of us had been there before so we figured let's give it a go. We arrived around 5 on a Monday evening. The restaurant was for the most part a vacant desert as we were ahead of the dinner rush. We were shown to our table and given the evening's specials. My wife decided to try the snapper special while I chose the Porcini mushroom ravioli. For drinks we ordered a bellini for my wife and a beer for myself. Our server was friendly yet given the low level of occupancy in the restaurant only checked in on us once after we received our food. We noticed that the owner was personally seating other customers who entered and would go to each table asking how the experience was, never once did he come to our table to ask how our evening or meal was. The portions were good sized and food was decent. Nothing super outstanding but nothing absolutely horrid either. Given the reviews we were expecting our socks to be knocked off with both the quality and taste of the entrees. Our socks weren't knocked off by either. From a value perspective the prices (when looking at the total bill) were high given the lack of the WOW! factor we were expecting. We spent close to (with tip) 90 dollars for the two us to have one drink each and one unremarkable entree. For that price I expect food that will leave me wanting more or wondering how soon we can return so I can try either that dish again or something else from the menu. Given the price and lack of remarkablility with the place I think, and our family will be doing this, your money and palette will be better served at some of the other establishments in Middletown. read more

Ordered bottle of Mondavi Fume Blanc (reasonably priced) - had the Roast Chicken & Sausage and Mushroom Eggplant Tart for appetizers. Those were OK. For entree had the Sweet Sausage Rigatoni and Pan Seared diver Scallops. Rigatoni was OK but the Scallops were undercooked and came out cool. Service was passable. Had to keep looking out for our waitress who was up and down a set of stairs. Had to go to the hostess to get some cheese. Service should be better for a quality place. Was not busy so that wasn't the problem. Will probably try another time. read more

We called for last minute Valentine's Day reservations and they were very accommodating and got us in. The food was delicious from the appetizers to the desserts. The service was great too. read more

I went with my friends for a nice meal at the Luce restaurant in Middletown, CT. I was offered some specials, no price given. The fish was only lukewarm and the rice that came with was cold. All other entries were in the $25.00 range. This special consisted of a piece of fish and rice with vegetables and that was all. The shock of having to pay $49.95 for moderate lukewarm food was ludicrous! No offer to decrease price for cold food was offered and then the waiter had the nerve to say" Well we do not give the price of specials before you order, because RICH people who come here do not want or need to know the price". How rude!!! Do not eat here it is a rude and expensive place for mediocre lukewarm food!!! read more

This place is nothing more than mediocre food trying to be high end. We came down a night early for a wedding and picked this place cause it seemed nice. We were sat at a table on what looks like a 3 season porch. In January. The host was very nice (and veryyyyy east on the eyes!) and sat us quickly. We ordered a bottle if wine but the waiter didn't recognize the name and asked for the number next to it (is this drunken Chinese takeout?!). The wine was well priced and delicious. Then came the food which came out way too hot after a 30 min wait (heat lamp much?) and was like something I could have bought at trader joes and made myself. It was good, but the only word either of us could come up with to describe it was "mediocre". I give this place an a+ for hot waiters, a b for the wine, and a c- for food. If it was not so pricey I might have ranked it a bit higher. Overall, meh. So 3 stars. read more

Bar menu and cocktails are pretty nice but dinner is a bit pricey for just nice food. I agree with fellow yelpers, is a nice special occasion place but I'll stick to cocktails with the girls at Luce. read more

We had a baby shower at Luce on Sunday. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion. read more

Nicely decorated, romantic even but tasteless uninspired food. Expensive ($18 for manicotti or rigatoni-$48 for dover sole) and tastless. The manicotti shell was hard and was filled with plain old hard tasteless unseasoned hamburger in a pool of salty pink sauce. The replacement dish of rigatoni was no better, filled with tasteless old hard hamburger and salty sausage in an equaly salty red sauce. So disappointed. I really wanted to like the place for its charming atmosphere. read more

My husband and I have been going to Luce Restaurant for several years and have always enjoyed the restaurant and have introduced friends and family to Luce. I have never written a review for it but after experiencing the best dining experience ever on this past New Year's Eve, I felt I had to write a review. I usually order the Luce Combo but decided to vary and asked our waitress Zera how the duck was. She replied "very good"! She understated it as the Long Island Duckling was "fantastic". My husband had the filet mignon and insisted that I taste it because it was soooo good. When a restaurant can serve two outstanding meals on New Year's Eve, the most crowded night of the year, I feel it deserves an "outstanding" rateing.. read more

Just had lunch here with my family. We we're in the area and figured why not, looked pretty cute on the outside. We got inside which is decorated pretty nice. The waitstaff isn't very friendly, ordered a salad and 2 sandwiches with soup... took foreverrrr.. and people that came in after us got their food first! It wasn't even that busy. Our waitress was not friendly at all. I thought for a second she wasn't working for tips by how she was. Either they were short staffed today or somebody wasn't having a good day. Either way, not coming back! Oh.. and the food was ok, not amazing for a $50 lunch. read more