I came here for dinner on a Sunday. I was seated in the dining area, but was moved to the bar so I could order off the bar menu instead. I ordered the grilled chicken panini with sweet potato fries. The serving size was huge, I only managed half of the panini and enjoyed it with a nice glass of wine. The service was great and the wait time for the food was not long. I'll have to come back to try the dinner menu :) read more

Luce - Grilled Chicken Panini with Sweet Potato Fries - New American Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

A friend and I attended an event at Cinder + Salt across the street so we decided to get dinner at Luce afterwards. Luce is one of the few restaurants in Middletown I had never been to before so I was excited to check it out. It was a VERY warm evening with lots of humidity, so we chose to sit inside with the lovely, refreshing a/c. Our server was instantly at our table, filling our waters and dropping off a basket of bread. The menu is extensive but not overwhelming, and the list of specials offered some great alternates to complement the other options. I chose the gnocchi with gorgonzola (I substituted that for a cream sauce) and my friend had the ravioli. Our waiter came by just enough to be attentive without being overwhelming and our water glasses were never empty. We got our check in a good amount of time. I was able to get a second meal out of my dinner and it was definitely worth $10/serving. I am looking forward to coming back here in the future. read more

I'm in love with this place and I want the world to know it!! I've been so reluctant to eat out lately because I keep getting let down with the lack of love I taste and see with the food I've gotten. Then to make it even more disappointing I get the bill and feel ripped off. Then here comes Luce with their amazing service and moan worthy food. Everything we had was perfect from drinks to bread to entrees! Can not wait to return! read more

I you want an Italian meal that will make you think your in the north end of Boston You are at the right place. I had the meat cannelloni and my wife had the swt. Sausage rigatoni and both were over the top Our waiter Alex was great very attentive and provide great service I'll be back for another meal next time I'm in the area read more

I enjoyed my dinner . Service was good only thing is we had to ask for the cheese salt pepper to go with the olive oil they supply for bread. I enjoyed my risotto and my husband love his steak. read more

For some reason we just hadn't come here in about a year or so.. what a mistake!! From the servicer to the dessert everything was just perfect! They have safe indoor and under the tent dining. I will be back! read more

6:30 reservation. Waited until 7:30 without a waiter coming over to take our dinner order. After 45 minutes with no server coming over we decided to leave. Manager handed us a bill, no apology for the delay. Will not be going back. I understand Covid and love supporting local businesses but I will not return. read more

Luce has a nice atmosphere, very good food and excellent service. I liked the Chicken Diavolo, which had a nice spice and came with roasted red bliss potatoes and spinach. They also had several specials available (we were there on a Wednesday night). read more

HUGE wine list for wine lovers like myself. Exceptional service, our waitress was Nita and she was just so friendly, engaging and AMAZING. Loved every second of my time there. read more

See all

I didn't even get in the door today. I was meeting a friend and drove over an hour. I parked in the lot of the restaurant. My friend had to run into the natural food store. We decided to go there first before we ate. I went to put a birthday present in my car as to not bring it into the store or restaurant and had a man in a suit screaming at me and pointing and waving his finger at me...for parking in the lot . I am a 43 year old woman. I may look like I am in my 20s , never in my life have I had a grown man yell and scold me for something I didn't even do. This is why no one is eating out anymore. Jaded owners who still charge full price for an awful experience. He should be thankful he even has a restaurant to run after Covid. Rude and incredibly disrespectful, embarrassing me like that. Shame on you. read more

We were hesitant to dine in Middletown because of the neighborhood, but were meeting friends halfway. Sorry to say the food was mediocre and the prices were steep. Our cocktails were very good, but that's where it ended. The entrees aren't truly Italian style, and my steak tips were diner-equivalent. read more

Great food! The outdoor seating is a real pull as well. We all cleaned our plates, and I now sit here wishing I would have brought home something extra. The only thing that kept me from giving Luce the four-star rating I considered, was the abysmal Mojito I was served. A few reviews I had read really praised their mixed drinks, and for something as mainstream as the Mojito, I was expecting a lot. I'm amazed at how many places fail to properly mix this drink... Anyways! It could've been an off-drink on an off-day. Three and a half stars for my experience. Easy four stars any other visit... read more

See all

The last time my wife and I visited Luce, the food was below standard, the service slow and the employees were somewhat rude.

Stopped by for a quick saturday lunch. Our waitress was lovely and very kind, she tried her best to accommodate but the food and drinks were consistently a let down. Burrata special was delicious except for the awkward amount of spaghetti squash. The signature salad which was described having "pancetta" ended up being bacon crumbs and the "polenta croutons" which tasted like dry pieces of cornbread. Not great, we couldn't finish the salad. French onion soup had a warm slice of provolone on top that wasn't even melted. Martinis were $14 and came with huge chunks of ice? We ended up having two bites of our entrees and just putting it in boxes. She took off our soup because we couldn't eat it and ended up paying $116 before tip. I think that's absurd for a lunch especially not a very good one. Maybe chef was having a off day but probably would never go back. read more

4 of us celebrated a wonderful birthday dinner for my dad at Luce last night! It was the first visit for all of us, but won't be the last! First of all, it's a beautiful restaurant inside and out (you may have seen the beautiful flowers decorating the front of the building when you drive by). They have a very nice outdoor patio on the sidewalk, although we opted to eat indoors because of the humidity. We ended up at a great table right by a front window, so it was the best of both worlds. The tables are spaced far enough apart that you can actually enjoy your conversations without being on top of other diners (a big pet peeve of mine at so many other places). We ate about 3 baskets of the fresh bread & olive oil - which they kept bringing without us having to ask - and ordered the calamari appetizer, which was served with 2 dipping sauces and extremely fresh, tender and crispy. I ordered a pasta from the specials menu - homemade fettucine with clams, corn, and veggies in a light broth. It was a perfect light summer pasta dish and I ate every bite! My husband ordered the duck and loved it. My parents split the Luce Combo, which was veal with a jumbo shrimp over pasta, and they said it was amazing as well. For dessert, we shared the cannoli and vanilla gelato - both were really generous servings enough for a group to share, which was nice! No leftovers for us though - everything was just too good and we cleaned our plates. We felt that the prices were very reasonable given the quality and quantity of the food. Great service throughout the evening. We left absolutely stuffed and satisfied. We'll be back again! Also wanted to note that there was a lovely wedding rehearsal dinner taking place in a semi-private room near the entrance to the restaurant. Looked like a great place for a private party! Just something to note if you're looking for that kind of thing. read more

My wife and I went here on our 18th wedding anniversary and were disappointed. I know restaurants like to use COVID as an excuse for things that happen during there dining services but poor service is poor service and bland food can be made to a least look more presentable. And when you ignore us and don't take our Entree order till well after the Appetizer is done then there is a problem. My wife and I were both in the restaurant business for over 12 years and catered for 8 and don't get me wrong we, we all make mistakes but restaurants need to do better most especially now. read more

first, we had a gift cirtificate and sice our first visit was bad we would try again and not waste the gift cirt. the serve was terrible, after the waiter too the order it was the last only time we saw him. once dinner arrive after 45 mins, mayne 3 table occupied my mashed were cold, so was the lamg, no salt on table gad to ask for napkins. no one came by " how is your food" my 6 year old daughter had to listen to some very loud people at the bar all nite getting smashed. i couldnt wait to leave my daughter wanted a scoop of chocolate ice cream, so when we asked for someone to clear plates, "do you have room for dessert we said yes" 5 mins later they come with the check. no soup no salad no appts no dessert, just two entrees and a ginger ale and sprint over 100.00. What a HUGE dissapointment read more

Poorest service I've received in Middletown. Arrived there at 4pm and maitre'd didn't even greet us - just looked at us as if we were interrupting him. When we told him we were there for a drink, he pointed at the bar. Waiter finally came over and brought our two drinks, and we were never attended to again. No refill requests from the bartender; no bar menus were ever offered! What's the deal here? Rude staff, inattentive bartender and over-priced cocktails - NEVER AGAIN! read more

2nd time at Luce - first time service was almost ok. Didn't really see server much. Food was good. The 2nd time I made a reservation a week in advance, showed up, they offered me worst, high traffic table during Outside Only seating. I asked for something better and was refused, despite many open tables. I was celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary and was really looking forward to a night out. Left Luce for Vera Cucino: better food, better service, better atmosphere, better price. Luce continues to be as pretentious and unimpressive as the first experience. For seating in parking lot. Whoever was seating people on Sat June 13 should be fired. What an ass and I spend a lot when we go out, as well as recommended places for corporate events for my company. I will never go here again. Your loss Luce. Get a clue!! read more

I just had a great dining experience at this restaurant over the weekend. Service by a redheaded waitress named "Lily" was fantastic- she was positive and enthusiastic and gave some great recommendations. Service was also prompt, with good overall timing and the helper waiter was equally genuine and friendly. The restaurant was steady busy but not overcrowded for a Saturday evening around 6:30ish. Private lot parking was plentiful, well lit, but had the usual middletown wandering weirdos around the public sidewalks. There was outdoor seating, but nobody was using it. While I usually opt for it, we decided to enjoy the A/C on this humid evening. For the food....amazing! Rich, flavorful, and no real complaints. Typical Italian tough-crust bread and herb infused oil for the table. I had the Maryland Crab Cake appetizer which was appetizer sized for only one person (2 very small cakes) and was gosh darn incredible with large shredded pieces of fresh crab. I wasn't sure I'd like the yogurt sauce slaw with it, but I was glad I tried it. For the main course, I had the Luce Combo. I really liked it Pasta, shrimp, and veal- what's not to like!. It had only 2 jumbo shrimp in it (which made me wonder why not 3 or 4 and then I got to thinking about that Curb Your Enthusiasm episode about shrimp in the Kung Po! lol). The presentation wasn't too remarkable for the type of dish, but the flavor and taste made up for that. Desert was fabulous as well. I had the Pana Cotta which was a first-time for me. It tasted great, fresh vanilla was peppered on it and was garnished with some moist dried fruit (if that makes sense) and powdered sugar--well plated. Dinner for 2: 2 appetizers, 2 cocktails, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts...came up to $105 plus gratuity. Definitely give them a shot. It's a great "fancy" yet casual attire is ok, for a special occasion or just a nice night out on the town. read more

Good goodNever totally recommend this place to anybody really good food great ambience little weird with a tent outside but good anyways my server was awesome can't wait to go back again was wondering if they had a takeout menu and if they do DoorDash but the server did not now so I will call back tomorrow to find out if they do read more

We were driving through Middletown and were very happy that we stumbled about Luce. The outdoor area is the first thing that attracted us and it is a great space. The service was prompt and helpful. We both enjoyed our meals, wine and we shared cannolis for desert. All told a great experience and will be making a return trip soon. read more

Loved my steak, not a fan of the sides. Nice atmosphere and great location. I would visit in the future.

Went to Luce yesterday, we have always enjoyed it in the past. First, nice bottle of wine and our server (the bartender) was great. Second, I am being kind here, our food was terrible. We order several apps, the crab cakes were mushy and cold. Next came the clams casino, over cooked and heavy ; not what was expected. Finally the scallops, if that's pan seared I'll eat my hat. Hey Luce you are better than this. read more

Absolute Gem. My wife and I stopped in with our two girls after riding the Polar Express in Essex. It was getting late for the girls; 6pm and they were getting restless. The staff were amazing. They managed to help out both subtly and gracefully all around! Took the kids orders right away and were on point when it came to moving onto dessert/coffee etc... Even letting me settle up early as we drank coffee in preparation for a quick exit! The food was absolutely amazing. This has to simply be one of the best restaurants I've eaten at "bang for your buck". The quality of the food was comparable to meals I've had at much more expensive restaurants. The portions were excellent and the selection amazing. I can thoroughly recommend this place!!! read more

My and I had lunch at Luce today, I had the 6oz filet mignon, fantastic. Hardest part of the meal was deciding which bite of my meal to save for the last bite! Best steak I have had since moving to CT (17years). My husband was equally happy with his meal. We will be back! read more

Luce is a special occasion place for me, and with the kids home from college we had a special occasion. So off we went. Good choice. The cuisine has Italian roots, American influence, and a fair amount of creativity. I ordered a venison special, and found it perfectly cooked, elegantly presented, and entirely delicious. My daughter said the same of hers, and so did my son of his veal chop. Luce makes an effort to foster a fine dining environment. The lighting helps separate parties from one another, and it's easy to carry on a conversation at your table. The server was attentive and helpful, answering our questions and letting us know that our entrees were coming. The prices are a little higher than I can manage to be a regular, but their bar menu is very reasonable indeed. The wine list is extensive, with very nice offerings by the glass if you're not in a group. I'll also mention that many years ago, Luce hosted a party I still remember with great fondness. What a meal it was! When I really need a meal like that, I know where to go. read more

We happened upon this restaurant as we were passing through town , looking for a pleasant place to have lunch. We walked into what looked like a lovely a restaurant and we were immediately seated and taken care of by a very attentive waiter . The restaurant was casually busy with a few large parties and other couples, however the service was very prompt and efficient. The ambiance of Luce is quietly upscale . We ordered their signature salad which came with shrimp and chicken . The salad was extraordinarily delicious. The dressing was a warm house dressing which was better than anything I've ever had . We live out of state , however, when we return to the Middletown area we will definitely return to Luce. It's really a restaurant you don't want to miss. read more

A very reliable fine dining destination in Middletown. Nicely appointed and spacious dining room, with white linen, exposed brick and brass and some warm touches like a propane fire place. Nice bar area too. Appetizers we loved included eggplant and portobello tower, raw oysters, roasted beet and pear special salad. Duck two ways ,confit and pan seared, with cabbage and polenta hash was a star entree as was buffalo short rib with spinach fettuccine and a special Chilean sea bass. The Luce duo of veal and shrimp was also well received. Service was efficient and attentive especially when food for our table of eight was delivered...it was all hands on deck to make sure wine poured, black pepper cracked and Parm grated. For dessert, Try the creme brûlée or molten chocolate with a cappuccino. Both can feed two and were very good. Prices are fair given quality and large portions This place has been the standard bearer in Middletown for a long time for good reason read more

In the category of fine dining Luca's was AOK. They didn't blow me away, but I would go back and not have a hard time recommending Luca's to friends. The ambiance varied depending on the room. Dark and elegant, to bright and sunny. My only complaint about the restaurant was the noise level. It was high! Tin ceiling, exposed duct work, and pipes made for high volume. Being Easter Sunday probably contributed. Most of the tables had at least six diners and everyone was animated. Except for the waiter disappearing, the staff was excellent. I think the plan was one waiter for the whole place and many servers. It was a good plan unless you wanted to order! The other staff could take care the odd request for butter, another glass of wine, etc. and there was always one nearby. But only the waiter could tell you what the specials were or take the dinner order. He wasn't around so we waited. While we waited I nibbled on the bread. Well...... it was better than wonder bread but not by much. Cold, hard, tasteless. There was olive oil on the table, but no balsamic vinegar or butter. We shared fried calamari to start. It's hard to describe calamari as tender but this was as tender as I have ever tasted. Dinner was excellent. I had the swordfish special. Excellent! moist, tender. Close to the best I ever had but the flavor, while nice, lacked something. I don't know what it could have been but it needed something to set it apart. My wife had Sirloin tips. She complained that they were nor rare enough. I ate most of them and thought them excellent, though I would have placed them more in the category of pot roast than steak. My Son had the filet mignon. he pronounced it excellent, as was the ham steak my Father had. The meal for the six of us including tax and tip came to around $265.00. About $45.00 each. But, only two of us were drinking and we didn't have desert or coffee. Not terribly expensive but not cheap either read more

Outdoor urban dining at its best! Excellent lunch and dessert menu! Recommendation: Do it up date style: split an app (or two), an entree (or two), and a dessert (or two)... and a bottle of wine (or two). read more

We may be spoiled by our spring visits to Rome and Venice as well as Gradisca in NYC in July. Nevertheless we stopped in briefly for a quick dinner before seeing a movie. The decor is nice and exudes an aura of fine dining. The host was rather busy with looking at the internet, and didn't even offer to take our coats. The service however was OK. The food quality was varied. My beef carpaccio was bland and smothered in arugala, with very little flavor and about two capers. My wife's scallops were great however, well cooked, with a myriad of sauces. The French onion soup was surprisingly flavorless and my wife's Caesar was over-dressed. It seems this restaurant is almost there, more passion in their food and front door service would make this place a shining star. read more

Went there for the first time for the fireworks this july, found this place for dinner and was blown away. From the moment we walked in the gentleman who greeted and sat us was very nice and on point. Same as our waiter. We ordered the porterhouse for 2 and it was more than amazing. We live 45 mins away and will travel there once a month it is that good. The apps the meal and the drinks all 10/10 rating read more

Luce - New American Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Food price / quality 9. Atmosphere is Italian / Neo-industrial / contemporary. Mediterranean themed, priced right, unique selections. Homemade potato chips wit blue cheese aioli, incredible. Salads too big to eat! read more

Nothing to write home about. The good: the food is standard/ decent; has a cute patio in the summer; The bad: service not great; the price for the type and quality of food is too expensive. Overall: grab a drink on the patio when the weather warms up. Beyond that, ehhh. read more

Wanted to go somewhere special for V-day with my wife so I decided Luce would be the choice. It was good but it certainly did not blow me away. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy. The tables were set up far apart where you see everyone but you still have that privacy, which was very nice. Now I'm not a wine connoisseur, but I know a thing or two. My wife's favorite wine is a nice montepulciano d'abruzzo, so we looked at the wine list and found a bottle with a brand I was aware of for $42. I understand that restaurants have to make a profit but that wine should have been 25-30 tops. The bread they give you at the table was great but cold. For an establishment like that, you really would like a fresh, warm loaf but that was a small issue. We ordered the Luce special salad and a crab cake to start and both were amazing. Perfect ingredients and great flavor to the salad. The crab cake was fresh and tasted delicious. I was very impressed. Our main course was a veal chop for her and the tenderloin tips for myself. The tenderloin tips were delicious in the carrot au jus but the veal sauce for the chop was incredibly salty. Way too much salt and seasoning was put on the chop. The biggest issue I had, however, was the fact that there were at least 2 kids (13-15) waiting tables and cleaning up. It just doesn't say "professional gourmet establishment" when I have a 13 year old ask me if I want bread. It seemed chaotic in there and multiple times I saw a waiter take food out of the kitchen and stand around not knowing where it went. That would lead them to return to the kitchen for 5 minutes and repeat the process. In my honest opinion, it just did not live up to the hype and I would personally try another spot for dinner in Middletown. read more

Extremely nice. Great service. They don't cut corners when it comes to ingredients. A little on the pricey side, but I don't mind. Worth it. I've been there a few times, but I just went back during lunch last week for a funeral reception. They kept serving food. They didn't stop. I was still burping fresh tilapia & skirt steak while making dinner for my family that night. If you are looking to die with style, I highly recommend having your reception there. The only down side to that is... well... you don't get to enjoy it with everyone else. read more

Atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. Waitstaff was attentive. We were sat by the windows along Main st. as people got into their parked cars their headlights lit up our table as though we were on stage. The food was excellent. I ordered the venison special, med-rare and was cooked perfectly. Very tender and tasty as expected. My date ordered mushroom ravioli and although I didn't taste it she commented that it was excellent. Finished off the dinner with the warm Lava cake ala mode. Could have been a little warmer but it was excellent, very tasty and just what was needed. Price was steep. Two glasses of wine, dinner and desert set us back $100. read more

I like Luce....but there's something about the ambiance that only draws me to the place on a snowy winter evening. The fireplace, perhaps? Or maybe the table in the window that overlooks a snowy picturesque Main St. Anyway, I've never gone here and had a bad meal. They have a very impressive wine list, even though I usually order by the glass. The martini list isn't half bad also, with some cute locally themed drinks. I recommend the Cucumber Martini. Very refreshing..... if someone can get the recipe out of the bartender... do tell! The food itself is excellent, they focus on free range chicken and things of that nature, which is nice. I opted for the lamb special when I was there and it was cooked to perfection. It was served with rosemary red bliss potatoes and asparagus saute. Amazing. read more

Should really be 4.5 stars, but of course Yelp doesn't allow for that. I don't normally review places I have only been to once, but this was SO good I have to make an exception. We were looking for someplace 'different' to go for a nice dinner out to celebrate our birthdays, and (thank you Yelp!) decided on Luce in Middletown. Atmosphere is very nice in the restaurant side, but we would have been unhappy if we were seated on the other side because there was a gentleman (term used loosely) screaming his head off at the final 4 basketball game on the TV in the bar. Luckily that ended before our appetizers came....Waitstaff is young, but very very polished and know how to give good service. Front of house manager/host clearly was running the show and stayed on top of service--nice to see. Now, on to the food. It was amazing. DH ordered clams on the half shell (1/2 doz) and the Luce combo (veal scallopine and shrimp combo with tomato and portabella mushrooms, capers and pasta shells). Clams were obviously fresh, sweet little cherrystones served with two sauces which were homemade and very good. Veal was tender, shrimp cooked perfectly. I believe he cleared his plate :). I ordered a beet salad, with goat cheese, pears and balsamic drizzle. It was not what I expected--I thought it would be greens with the above ingredients over..it was a little formed pile of beets with the other ingredients surrounding. OMG it was fantastic!! Dinner was chicken medallions with asparagus, sun-dried tomato, mushrooms, all served over risotto...mmmmm risotto.......drool drool drool.....So, we are fans of the food. What really sold us on going there was the wine list, which we looked up before we went. Stags Leap Artemus, Chateau Montelena Chard, Grigch Hills wines...you get the picture. An absolute paradise for oeniphiles. All priced fairly reasonably for a restaurant. We settled on the Chateau Montelena chard, and it was transcendent. It was a splurge at $70 but not bad when you consider it sells for about $50 retail. All in all, a fantastic experience and we will be back. Hopefully soon! read more