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    Luce

    4.5 (590 reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Wine Bars
    Closed 4:45 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Luce Photos

    Business Info

    LUCE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Luce

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    Reviews With Photos

    Pollo Con Strati
    Lori S.

    Amazing food and cozy vibe- a must-visit downtown spot! We were at Luce on Friday and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The space is intimate and cozy with side-by-side counter seating right in front of the open kitchen -- perfect for watching the chefs at work and adds to the whole experience. We started with the ensalata di Luce and it was fresh and flavorful, a great balance to the rich mains. The pollo con strati was perfectly cooked and the lobster gnocchi was phenomenal -- rich, indulgent, and definitely worth ordering a side of sourdough bread for dipping in the sauce! To finish, the cheesecake with berries was a delightful end to the meal -- creamy and just sweet enough without being heavy. Service was attentive without being intrusive and the ambiance complemented the food beautifully. This place is small and fills up fast, so reservations are a very good idea, but snagging a seat at the counter made our night feel special and lively. Overall -- truly one of the best Italian meals in Norfolk if you're looking for great food, a cozy atmosphere, and a memorable dinner. Always my fave & we will definitely be back!

    Bruschetta
    Candace K.

    Date night with hubby before seeing a play, so Luce was the perfect location. We didn't have reservations but only a 30 min wait. The hostess / waitress was great. We ordered bruschetta, mussels and the tenderloin. Everything was delicious, especially the mussels, but the tenderloin was medium rare when we asked it to be medium, the sauce was STRONG - so we scraped it and used the left over sauce from the mussels. Not sure if I'd order the tenderloin again but highly recommended the rest.

    Mascoto wine
    Craig B.

    Stopped in based on reviews and they did not disappoint. We sat at the bar where the bartender made some food recommendations and they did not disappoint. Great service along with a great atmosphere, reservations highly recommend as seating is limited

    Wild Boar rigatoni
    Dale C.

    So my wife chose this place and I am glad she did. Everything is made in house fresh. Very small and very cool. We will be back to this place. Our server was awesome she was as happy with our choices as we were. We chose the octopus appetizer. Oh man was it amazing. Usually the octopus is small and overly charred this one was cooked perfectly and a nice sized piece very flavorful treatment a little fragrant glaze with a little bite of balsamic The pasta Antonio was loaded with fresh ahi. So very good we enjoyed all of it. Lemony goodness and bright not overtly sauced which is perfect. The wild boar rigatoni was hearty and full of flavor. Ironically my wife ordered this and she loved it. Lots of boar and very flavorful sauce. Fantastic dish. Tiramisu was perfect very good. So many people over do the espresso flavor but this was just the right amount. Cold and full of flavor. Great place great food great service.

    Pravash M.

    Another solid 4 star bar counter seating experience. Wife enjoyed the Persephone cocktail (mad tad sweeter on request). House red was high value ($6 happy hour). Toasted goat cheese and pesto app was top notch ($14, 5/5 stars); warm, creamy, savory app on fresh bread with garlic and veggies. Gamberi e crema al limon ($29, 3.5/5 stars) had big, tender shrimp over pasta. Pollo a la Vodka special ($29, 3.5/5 stars) was a ton of chicken in thin pink sauce; side of fresh bread would have helped. I could have asked for some but wanted to save room for dessert. Pistachio cheesecake was DYNAMITE ($14, 6/5 stars). Bar tender described it perfectly - "sweet but not too sweet, big enough to share about 3 bites each, light/airy and not overly filling but big on pistachio flavor."

    Bone in veal chop Milanese
    Brandy W.

    I had the pleasure of revisiting Luce after a couple of years and the food is just as flavorful as I remembered! I recommend making reservations a couple weeks out or if you have time to spare to wait, they do offer walk-ins. Also for parking, it's a bit tricky to find street parking downtown Norfolk, but the parking garages offer a free 2 hour pass, so that would be the best move. We ordered the bone-in veal chop Milanese made with the perfect panko crust and lemon caper sauce that was to die for. For the pasta, we order the special which was fennel sausage and a cream sauce with rigatoni pasta cooked just al dente creating the perfect texture. Service was impeccable and the restaurant is a bit smaller, so the noise level can be loud. Can't wait to go back!

    Pasta with shrimp and a Limone sauce. So delicious.
    Melissa M.

    Second time here and it was a wait to get it but worth it. The food here is as close to Italy as you're going to get. I had a glass of Moscato to go with my dinner and it was all perfect.

    Marylee B.

    Was in Norfolk for business and decided to stop here for dinner. It did not disappoint! Val was our server and she was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. She answered our questions and helped us pick our choices for the evening. I chose the Gamberi e Crema al Limone and it was rich and full of flavor. The shrimp were massive and the noodles were absolute perfection. The asparagus pieces were also the perfect texture, they weren't soggy but they weren't too crunchy either. My friend chose the Lobster and Prosecco Gnocchi, it was delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the lobster portion. They certainly didn't skimp. We finished the evening with mini cannolis and tiramisu. Both were rich and the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner. 10/10 recommend. Small venue so I would encourage you to make a reservation.

    Clam Brodo
    Fina K.

    One of my fav place! Even though it's small, It's worth trying it! I mostly eat at the bar area, cause you get a better feel of the restaurant plus you get to meet interesting people. And by the way it's simple decore, but the food makes up for it by far. You can actually see the kitchen in the back, and mesmerized how the chef conjure these wonderful dishes. The service was perfect! I ordered "Cesar Salad" it was nice they grill the lettuce just a touch to bring out the flavor and the dressing was so good! Next I ordered the "Clams Brodo" and Wow! I sipped up all the juices. Lol And finally my dessert was "Fresh Fruit Puff Pastry" It was so fresh and flaky that it completed a perfect meal for me for sure! All and I mean all of my plates where squeaky clean. Lol Definitely will come back! If you are in the area you definitely have to try.

    Muscles with tasty chunks embedded in the sauce, perfectly paired with bread
    Latonya S.

    Luce is recommended by all the locals and it is definitely worth your time. The dessert was served warm - one of my favorites because it was a brownie covered with nuts and a caramel drizzle. The service was outstanding. This is a small location. Please make reservations in advance. If not, you may get lucky and have a seat at the bar - which I did after happy hour crowd was left. Prepare to be amazed by the risotto and scallops which happened to be today's feature muscles was the star of the entire experience.

    The bruschetta had copious amounts of tomato which were flavorful, but not enough of the ricotta. Imbalanced.
    Team KP S.

    On a recent business trip, my wife joined me and we ventured out for dinner in the city. This restaurant is small and cozy - and I mean *really* small. We called ahead to check for availability and were told we could grab seats at the bar. Perfect! We walked right in with no wait and settled in immediately. The bartender was sweet and friendly, but something was off with the service. She didn't seem overworked (the place wasn't that busy) and she didn't appear inefficient either, but the service just... wasn't great. She seemed like a lovely person who probably isn't cut out for the service industry - nothing wrong with that, just not her strong suit. Right off the bat, we hit a snag when my wife asked about swapping the tuna for shrimp on one of the dishes. Nope, absolutely not possible. It seemed like such a simple substitution, but they were completely inflexible about it. Not a great start. We started with bruschetta, which had great flavor, but it was billed as having a ricotta with it, and if there was any ricotta on there, it was microscopic however, there was about seven tomatoes worth on there... A little imbalanced and needs some improvement. I ordered a chicken dish that was quite tasty and came in a generous portion, but here's where things went downhill fast - two pieces of chicken were loaded with gristle. I'm talking completely inedible, unappetizing gristle. When you're dropping $100+ on a meal at a place like this, serving gristly chicken is just unacceptable. My wife's gnocchi with lobster was pretty good, no major complaints there. But here's the plot twist - the best thing we ate all night was a simple side of fresh pasta with basic seasoning! Seriously, it was fantastic. Maybe they should focus on nailing the basics like that incredible pasta instead of being so rigid about substitutions or serving subpar chicken. We wrapped up with a hazelnut torte that was just okay - nothing to write home about. Despite the hiccups, we actually had a fun time together, and honestly? We'd probably come back just to order that amazing plain pasta with a simple protein on the side. Sometimes the simplest things are the best! To those about to nosh, we salute you!

    Singi D.

    While I was on work travel I went here twice. The cutest little bar with very few seats and it's definitely worth the wait. I had the Halibut (with a spicy crust in a chutney) one day and another day the wild boar ragu with the glass of their happy hour wine. It was amazing. The bartenders were very interesting and attentive and had a fun and upbeat perspective. I really enjoyed sitting at the bar. However the ladies who work there, the hostess, was not as friendly. But the bartender made up for it. Highly recommend.

    VEAL SALTIMBOCCA Hand pounded veal, Prosciutto di Parma, white wine, fresh sage, butter.
    Christina T.

    The restaurant is small yet comfortable. The food is delicious and our waiter was very attentive and made excellent recommendations. Highly recommend.

    Esprssso martini

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    3 months ago

    The food was absolutely amazing and the service was top tier ! We were sat immediately with no reservations on a busy night .

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    7 months ago

    Beautiful experience! I loved the ambiance and service. The food was amazing. The band was so smoot. Great place to take family and friend.

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    Luce Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Luce

    I see you can offer gluten-free and dairy-free dishes... do you have vegan options as well?

    Yes

    Do you accept carryout/take-away orders, and how do we place them?

    Sorry for late response, yes we do. 757-502-7260

    Hello, do you guys have a diary free meal or anything diary free?

    Yes we sure can make many dishes dairy free.

    How do we get a reservation?

    Just call and leave a message with your telephone number and they will call you back. I have never had any problems doing that, they always call back. Cheers!

    Do you offer gift certificates to purchase?

    No we do not. Sorry. Thanks for considering us

    Any gluten free pasta or breads here?

    Yes

    What's the best parking recommendation or suggestion? Is valet offered or an option? Thanks in advance!

    Hello, there is street parking only. And unfortunately no valet.

    Are kids welcome?

    Tony and Angel would make you feel welcomed if you have to bring kids. But it is really a great place for a real Italian meal, wine and great conversation. Not engineered to keep young people happy. Now when your kids get to be old like mine it is… Read more

    What does the happy hour entail?

    Discounted wine, beer and well drinks.

    Are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day?

    We have beautiful specials . Also recommend reservations

    View All 12 Questions

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    Mermaid Winery

    Mermaid Winery

    3.8
    (321 reviews)
    0.2 mi
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    Came here a few weeks ago with some girl friends, and we enjoyed! All 3 of us got the wine flight…read moreand chose our own flavors. The flight was more than enough for me. We ate prior to coming here so we didn't get any food, but i did end up getting a skillet cookie which was sooooo good. Thankfully we came on a warm day, so we were able to sit outside on the patio. The inside was super cute as well, but slightly cold. Which i understand because the weather has been super back and fourth. Our waiter was super nice and helpful. Next time i go back i would like to try their food to see how it is.

    Mermaid Winery in Norfolk has been a good experience for me. It doesn't feel like a loud bar or a…read morepressure-to-drink environment. It reads much more like a cozy restaurant with wine, not a wine tasting room where everyone is hovering around flights. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the space itself is interesting and comfortable. It's an easy place to sit, talk, and actually enjoy the people you're with without feeling out of place because you're not drinking. No one makes it weird, no one questions your choice, and you're not the odd one out. The food is the real anchor for me. I go for the meal, the setting, and the conversation, and that's more than enough. It feels like a legitimate dinner spot, not somewhere you're just tagging along while others drink. If you're sober or choose not to drink but still like going out, being social, and enjoying good food in a relaxed environment, this place works. I'm comfortable here, I enjoy the experience, and I'd go again without hesitation.

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    Tuna Bite Nachos
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    Redneck roll
    Main dining area

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    Press 626 wine bar

    Press 626 wine bar

    4.4
    (537 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    FANTASTIC! Vibes? Yes!…read moreFood? Yes! Wine? Yes! Thank you to John who welcomed us and recommended good wine for our food We came here with our son, who recently moved to Norfolk. He came here for his first meal in town and John treated him to a glass of wine with his gourmet grilled cheese He brought us to the experience : Brussels sprouts -- delicious with sweet and spicy and hazelnut Goat cheese and beet salad: good dressing, nice mix, exactly what I wanted for dinner Truffle tots: yeah, tots are good, but with truffle and Parmesan? Wow!! The vibes here are great. There's music on but you can still talk to people. Seating at the bar or tables or, if the weather is nice, on the front porch. It has an elegant but relaxed feel that would make this place great for a date or friends ( or family!) We will be back And yep, we are back for tapas Tuesday where all small plates are $2 off Hummus -- ok Duck egg rolls good Lamb meatballs : GREAT flavor!! Roasted Carrot beet with labneh and dukkah : delicious Dumplings-- good but spicy for me Miso butter gnocchi with mushrooms-- delicious Roasted salmon-- folks were split on this between "solid" and good Salad of farro and spinach with beets and goat cheese and pear -- this was amazing. The dressing had awesome spices in it that made the whole thing complex. 3 new wonderful wines ! Thanks to all at this restaurant for another amazing meal. You are our favorite Norfolk spot!!

    We sat at the bar. They have a large wine selection but their cocktails were also very good. I got…read morethe lamb with the chimichurri sauce. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce complimented the food well.

    Photos
    Press 626 wine bar
    Blueberry wine dinner: lamb chops with labneh, house preserved lemon, roasted beets, balsamic glaze
    Blueberry wine dinner: lamb chops with labneh, house preserved lemon, roasted beets, balsamic glaze
    Aperol Spritz ,  Iykyk!!

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    Aperol Spritz , Iykyk!!
    Brothers

    Brothers

    3.4
    (152 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    My family and I were visiting Norfolk looking for a steakhouse and found this place. Overall it is…read moredefinitely worth trying if you are looking for a more upscale and slightly pricey night out. The food tasted amazing and came out quick. The crab cakes were cooked perfectly had a lot of crab meat. Most of the tables got steak and they were all cooked to each persons desired level. The salmon was also very flavorful an and cooked well. Both the sides of Mac and cheese and the seafood Mac were amazing. Definitely our favorite sides. Broccolini was good but a very small amount. Service was amazing our server was very sweet and accommodating. The restaurant was not too crowded on Saturday night. The restaurant is connected to the mall but there is no entrance through the mall. You have to walk outside. They say where to park on their website but I think you're better off parking in the street.

    Well we finally made it to Brothers, on the cusp of what is the beginning of the closing to the…read morerestaurant. This evening my party of 6 arrived at 5pm for our reservation. Our extremely gracious waitress Roshaunda was really a darling young lady and why I added a star to total 3. Only for the service, Since the restaurant is closing they are no longer stocking basic things even like tarter sauce. Cocktail sauce , ginger ale. We were dining before a 8pm show at Chrysler Hall so did not have options and make our play on time. The food did come out hot and delicious. Lambchops had way too much glaze,almost to hide something.... Brothers announced the closure sometime about 2 weeks ago which makes me wonder if it is a long time coming.

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    Bar area
    Bar area
    Brothers
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    Cocktails

    Luce - italian - Updated June 2026

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