Great place in the middle of the Adelaide Central Market. We decided to order lightly since it was so late for lunch. Ordered a pizza which only comes in one size and it is about 6". The almond biscotti cookies caught our eye when ordering so we bought a couple. The small pizza was awesome. It had mushrooms, olives, and capsicum. EXCELLENT! Every morsel was eaten. We took the cookies back to our hotel room and ate one...then the other. Oh my, the best cookies we've had. The next day we had to return for another pizza and more cookies. Service was great. Order at the counter and take a seat. Food arrives piping hot! Great staff. Highly recommend. Will definitely return when in Adelaide again. read more

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Horrible pizza size, huge amount American parmesan on cream pasta .... Typical market snack bar .

As always as a foodie in an unfamiliar town, I turned to Yelp for instruction on somewhere nearby for breakfast... Lucia's is tucked away inside the market and has a great buzzing vibe. I was really there for the beans but they'd run out by the time I got there for a late breakfast (around midday). My mushrooms & roast tomato on toast ($8.50) was really good, but my coffee was the best coffee I've had in a long time. Not kidding, THE BEST! Finding a table proved problematic but the staff were so lovely and obliging that it didn't even bother me that much. Choose your table BEFORE ordering though or you may end up sweltering amongst the filth of the communal Market tables- personally I'd rather wait a bit longer and enjoy my meal. I'm devastated they're not open today (Sun) as I was excited about getting in early for beans or alternatively trying a pizza. And no coffee will ever taste as good. read more

Lucias - Busy but worth it! - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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I was indoctrinated into this simple setting of "The Beautiful Life" at the ripe ole' age of 4. A cheese sandwich, OJ and half of Dad's tartufo was my Friday night meal here for a good 10 years as part of our routine Friday night Central Market shop. I have to say that those memories may have somewhat cloudied with a chance of meatballed my judgement of this place. The interior has not changed since the 1800's and does feel a tad caked in 100 years of Central Market grime but to me this is part of the romanticism of this place. I am one of those people they write about in Stuff White People Like and so coming here makes me feel like I'm truly immersing myself in the Italian culture, and I get a sick rush from doing so. The simple handmade pasta dish of ravioli (that you have to order fresh basil and ricotta with) or the ridiculously simple tuna salad (that you also have to order ricotta with) are my go to dishes now as an adult. Pair this with a glass on wine, 1990's prices (cash only counter) and a never changing menu and you have a comfort food cavern worth the 5-10 minute wait in line! read more

Lucias - The tuna salad (ask for a side of ricotta too) - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

As Andrew C. said, this place is iconic. And with good reason. The food is simple and hearty, the staff are (mostly) friendly and efficient and most importantly everyone always seems to be having a pleasant time here. I love the old brown and orange decor with the giant 'P' and 'L' letters on the wall in memory of Lucia and Pasquale who started the place in the 50s. A few tips: 1) Always get fresh basil and ricotta with your pasta. It costs a few extra dollars but you're not a philistine are you? It's worth it. 2) If you're hungover the Avon Gole is the way to go - salty little clams in a tomato sauce. Think of me when you're feeling better. 3) Winter time is gnocchi time. You need the starchy carby goodness, don't fight it. 4) Are you really hungry? Get a fluffy little pizza to share before your pasta or order the slightly larger sized bowl for a few extra dollars. 5) Desserts - look out for the italian berry trifle. It will change your (dessert) life. 6) Are you on a health kick? Well, you're stupid but order the warm chicken salad. 7) Go to the store next door if you want to get some fancy fine foods for later. Pricey but there is some highlights. I recommend the desserts and salads in the fridge along the back wall, and give the nonya popiah (two big cold roll sort of things, except the wrapping is not rice flour like cold rolls. Delicious peanut sauce inside, with lots of fresh crispy veges) a try. read more

Lucias - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

This small cafe/restaurant has been in the central market for ever. They have always served authentic Italian dishes but their standout is the home made lasagne. Only available on Fridays after midday and let me say it was the parking cost to experience this Devine creation. It is not fine dinning,the presentation is not going to please the judges on master chef but the food itself does the talking once you get into it. Don't leave it too late though the lasagne does sell out. read more

Lucias - Best lasagne in Adelaide - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

There's a reason why this place is always packed. Good old fashion Italian and extremely cheap. My partner and I ordered two pizzas and garlic bread, cost: $26.40. The pizza is thick and very filling (you won't leave here hungry). The food isn't upmarket but still very enjoyable. The restaurant itself is basic (no frills) but it has a great vibe and buzz to it. The staff are run off their feet but do a wonderful job serving people as quickly as possible. read more

Lucias - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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Lucias pizza and spaghetti bar is an Adelaide institution of the Baby Boomer generation. It was established in the late nineteen fifties and is going strong today on fabulous cappucino and excellent pizza that is almost like a savory cake its base is so light and spongy. The minestrone is also wonderful and the pasta is a delight so you can't go wrong if you enjoy good traditional home made Italian food. It is a busy little cafe bar and the inside seating is quite often difficult to get, so there is a bench outside whre you can sit and wait for someone to move on after their meal. Outside there are plenty of tables as well, but on a market day it is hard to get a seat anywhere. It is inside the undercover Adelaide Central Market, so sitting outside is great fun mainly because you are still inside; the maiin difference being you are part of the hustle and bustle, and there is plenty of that! The wait can get a little boring if you have a lot of people who are just sitting and enjoying the atmosphere as people in cafes often do; so they've finished their meal and they know they are in prime seats but they just stay there - selfish? Yes. Particularly when it's during the week and it's your lunch break from work! But relax, they will go eventually and once you have ordered your moderately priced meal it will turn up on your hard won table pretty promptly. The service is usually really nice, the food is top notch and the amiance is fun and cosey. read more

Lucias - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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Lucias is a hallmark of the Adelaide food culture. Its success and commitment to the family business model has been noted by several institutions, including an appearance on Food Safari! Nevertheless, what more can be said about this restaurant? The food is always delicious, ticking all the boxes for an authentic Italian cuisine. The proof is in the pizza; they have a thick dough base like a true pizza should. None of that thin pita bread base business! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are all viable options at Lucias and would not disappoint at any time, which is a rare, and welcome, trait to find in smaller businesses these days. The only downfall of this restaurant is its high demand and limited space. There are a lot of tables in and around Lucias, but on busy Friday and Saturday nights it sometimes isn't enough. So if you want to try out Lucias, and I strongly suggest you do, It'd be a good idea to come for lunch on Monday or Friday, unless you're willing to try and get a spare table on Friday/Saturday night. read more

Lucia's is one of the most iconic cafes in the Adelaide Central Market, and can guarentee that its reputation for great, yet inexpensive food is recognised far and wide. In fact, Lucia's was the very first cafe I visited in Adelaide when my family moved here. Despite its somewhat shabby and unassuming decor, the place is always completely full with would-be patrons crowding around like a pack of vultures, vying for the next free table. In my opinion the dishes aren't anything too special, but they are still enjoyable and most importantly, innexpensive. They are one of the only Italian cafes which serve portions reasonable for a single person to eat, which is to their credit. My go to dish is the carbonara with gnocchi, which dispite being more of an omelette on gnocchi is strangely delicious. read more

Lucias is an Adelaide Icon great place for breakfast and they cater for GF and Vegan. Variations to the breakfast menu are catered for with a smile. It goes without saying that the coffee is great we are greeted like family members. Great for breakfast, and we also love a glass of wine on a Friday while enjoying the hustle and bustle of the Central Markets. Dont forget to go next door for great produce and more smiling family members. Great job guys read more

Went here for breaky with a local . Heard it was da place. When a tiny muscular blonde with a tough looking bodyguard came in it was confirmed. Lucias is P!nk's favourite breaky place in Churchcity. Pity my hands were shaking so much, and the bodyguard was so frightening or the photo would have been better...Good food, served well , pretty decent coffee and a busy, interesting vibe. Well done guys. If you are a biggish group get there early.... read more

Lucias - Guess who is here.... - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

The food here is as good as any expensive restaurant. Be prepared to spend time waiting for a table without reservation, it's complete chaos, but worth the wait and effort. I know there are bad reviews but if you want table service go to La Trattoria. No frills Italian cuisine. read more

Lucias - Great pizza - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

The pasta served was overcooked and tasted stale. The sauce that accompanies the pasta tasted like they came out from a can. It is affordable i must say read more

Have been to Lucia's many times over the past few years with an Australian friend who has recent Italian lineage. He's passionate about his heritage as well as 50s and 60s retro so he really digs the ambience of Lucias. To me, its just a place that hasn't had a refit since it first opened, evidenced by the wood panelling, grotty ventilation and exposed utilities. In this respect, it fits into the rest of the bustling Adelaide Central Markets really well. I guess it appeals to the many Adelaidean babyboomer nostalgia addicts. Having said this, the tables, crockery and cutlery always seem clean. Lucia is always busy at lunchtime and difficult to get a seat, but so are most places (eg Zumas) in the ever popular Markets. If you are lucky enough to get a table and sit down on the uncomfortable seats then you'll experience decent Italio-Australian food. The coffee is strong and tasty. I'm not a huge fan of Italian food because its heavy in wheat carbs and at risk of the tomato sauces being too sweet or salty. Having said this, Lucia's pizza and pasta is usually good and reflects the authentic and fresh product they source. If you don't want to take in too many carbs, they make a nice chicken and vegetable salad meal although the chicken breast is usually a bit overcooked and tough. They need to take a lesson in cooking poultry from their Asian colleagues in the nearby food hall! Despite being always busy, the service is relatively quick although I've had to chase up a late order a couple of times, which is not unusual for most restaurants/cafes surrounded with the kind of foot traffic the Central Markets pull in. Overall, I'd give Lucia's 4 out of 5 stars for the good quality Italian food. I find the decor is "meh" and takes 0.5 points away but this won't be an issue who like daggy retro. As for those who say Lucias is an "institution" I just don't see it - to me it just feels too much like greasy spoon. The other 0.5 points off from me is for the low convenience of the difficulty in finding a table. read more

Unlike most people I just don't get what all the fuss is about when it comes to Lucia's and I usually like daggy old eateries with heart. I have had some good coffee here with friends sitting outside of the Cafe in the market but that's about as good as it got for me here. I came here for breakfast once and found it a little disappointing. The eggs weren't very flavoursome and didn't look or taste like they were free range. They I visited another time for a bowl of pasta with my daughter and that wasn't much better either. Her pasta was in a watery sauce and there weren't many ravioli for the price. I don't know if we just got a bad day but I was talking the past up to her beforehand because I had tasted some of their lovely sauces and pasta from their shop next door. They must be doing something right because people love coming here but so far it has eluded me and I am not sure if I am game enough to go back for another experience. read more

Lucias is an iconic Italian restaurant situated in Adelaide's Central Markets. Always busy, especially on Fridays at dinner time, it somewhat of a scrabble to get a table, as the system is rather chaotic, if not non-existent. However, usually through diligence and teamwork a table is quite promptly got, as there are lots of sets (seating is not limited only to the tables near Lucias but extends to the whole shared dining surrounding the several cafes nearby) there just happen to be lots of people sitting in them. Delicious home style Italian cooking is the fare. The menu is not extensive and there is not much in the way of flash and dazzle, but the produce is fresh and of high quality and is cooked with knowledge and affection. If you are lucky, and get a table nearby, you may even get to hear some of the free live music put on the markets on Friday's and Saturdays while you eat. read more

One of the nicest tasting coffee places I've been to in Adelaide... Especially if you're a soy drinker. The only thing letting this place down is the lack of customer service & room to move... Ordering a small take-away coffee took around 10 minutes - with no other customers before me - and while standing in a tight squeezed spot waiting, I was not offered to go take a seat for someone to bring it to me, not even after they had to remake it from the barrister mistake & they could see my hands were full carrying other things... No doubt - I will come back again since the coffee is tasty... But what has happened to hospitality ?? read more

yrscore: F3,E4,R4 yrscore.com This is my second time here. The first was before I started writing reviews on food and restaurant. I remember vaguely that Lucias serves good pasta. Hence I decided to visit again. Ordered the spaghetti Napoletana. It was served in a humble bowl with a generous portion. However, the cheese was slightly overwhelming. The balance between pasta, tomato and cheese was off. Less cheese and it would taste just like a good home cooked pasta. The setting of this place reminds me of old cafes in Italy - Checkered floor, wooden walls. Staffs are polite and friendly too! I will drop by again to order that "very nice pasta" from my memory. read more

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V good vongole pasta. Generous serving of clams. Its tough to grab a seat if ur alone during lunchtime. Lucias is an Adelaide institution for italian food. Limited operating hrs as its located in the Central Mkt. read more

For those who don't understand the magic that is Lucia's, that's great. All the more seats for us. Seriously, it is 'magic'. Certainly, the coffee is delicious. And the breakfast, which you have to be very specific about how you like it, (sour dough toast, runny eggs, crispy bacon and extra parsley please)... and there are any number of other yummy things... but my bet for why it is the very best place for a coffee and a chat is that it has the most amazing acoustics of any cafe, anywhere in the world. Elbow to elbow with the people at the next table, your cone of silence is sacrosanct. Hence the legal eagles land at lunchtime, the film industry folk and paparazzi share their secrets all day every day and the Pollies pop in on Saturdays with the kids. It's a one and only. read more

Great food A bit pricey for pasta Had lasagne was great but once we had desert etc we spent over $60 for lunch read more

The coffee here and atmosphere is wonderful and intoxicating really. As a Baby Boomer I have been going here for more years than I care to count. You are missing something if you do not realise this is an institution and a real treasure. read more

Really? Decided to try this place as a result of the overwhelming number of good reviews all over the various foodie sites. Although the place was packed out, we should have realised it was a mistake before we even sat down when we noted that there wasn't a single diner there that looked even remotely European. Always a bad omen if you're offering Mediterranean cuisine, and not one diner there looks Mediterranean. Ordered Spaghetti Al Vongole for both myself and my wife, with a bottle of S. Pellegrino for the tidy sum of $43.40. Not bad, considering the Spaghetti was poor quality packet pasta you can get in any supermarket, and the tomato sauce was probably poured out of a caterer's tin, before it may have spent no more than a few minutes in a pot to warm it up. My dish was served almost as a soup, with the pasta swimming around in a watery red concoction. After questioning the consistency of the sauce, the dish was returned to me, with most of the watery sauce obviously drained from the very same serving. Ok, let's try anyway. Wow .. two or three mouthfuls, and we knew. Yep, a worse dish, I doubt we've ever had!!! Did they slow cook the sauce to infuse true Italian flavours? Not likely. Have they heard of seasoning the sauce? Don't think so. Do they realise garlic, olive oil, and other fresh herbs are used generously when cooking down Italian red sauces? No, none of the authentic flavours you'd expect in even a poorly executed Italian sauce were present, and this, from a venue located smack bang in the Central Adelaide market? Hmmm .. if bland needs a new definition, we'd describe it as Lucia's Spaghetti Al Vongole, which brings me to the vongole themselves. The meat inside these delicate gifts from the Gods hadn't been respected and as a result, had been overcooked to the point where you'd have found more tenderness in chewing through a piece of rubber. It was also obvious that the pasta hadn't been fried off for a few minutes after boiling it, with the sauce, vongole, wine, additional garlic, herbs, and olive oil being tossed through it. Even my 10 year old nephew knows you'd do this when preparing an Italian pasta dish which involves seafood and light red sauce with it. We ended up leaving without having eaten more than two or three mouthfuls each, and when we contacted them later in the day to see if they were open to refunding us for the experience, we must say that they weren't very accomodating. They are very lucky that they are in an incredible location for foot traffic, as we doubt very much that they would be successful anywhere else. We ended up driving to Henley Beach and had a wonderful meal at our favourite Mediterranean eartery there where we spent almost three times as much for food which is consistently flavoursome, and simply boarish. As a final word, if you're Italian yourself, don't bother with Lucia's, as you'll be bitterly disappointed. read more