DO NOT READ ANY OTHER REVIEWS BEFORE THIS ONE! I'll start by saying this, my family and I almost didn't come here because of the overall low rating on Yelp. At the time of writing this, it was 3.8 stars, which usually indicates a mediocre restaurant at best. That could not be further from the truth! As a person who is of Neapolitan heritage, this made me feel like I was back at Grandma's. I have eaten at Italian restaurants ranging from South Philly, to New York, to Jersey, and all across the East Coast, and this is amongst the best! Don't listen to these other reviews who are either from 3+ years ago, or obviously have zero knowledge on true Italian cuisine! The gentleman who we had the pleasure to have as our waiter was outstanding. He had the perfect amount of professionalism, and comedic banter to make us feel like we were right at home. On top of that, our drinks were always filled, and the delivery of our food was perfectly timed, never feeling rushed to order or finish our appetizers. Switching to our food, we ordered the Fried Calamari, Mushrooms, and Zucchini, each one perfectly fried, and tasted delicious. The addition of salad and rolls could not have been better for the dinner. They have 3 dressings, all made in-house, which are given to you in a self-serving dish. All were spot-on! For the entree, I got the Fettuccine Della Casa, and it was terrific! All the flavors worked perfectly. The chicken was nice and tender, the vegetables were soft, but not mushy, the pasta was a perfect al dente, and the sauce thoroughly combined it all. We walked out with zero complaints, besides the fact that the restaurant is 3+ hours from our house. If you're from out of town(like us) or a local, you need to eat here! I don't ever leave reviews, but I made an exception because of my frustration with the current reviews left on this page, and the fact that in reality it is a top-tier establishment. This will be a guaranteed stop from now on, for anytime we're back in Franklin! read more

Amazing staff and service. Place was like you'd expect an authentic Italian restaurant to be. Taken over by the daughter of the owner, keeps this place in business since the '70's. We had enough to share and take home. The desserts were so rich and delicious to light & sweet. The rolls you wanted to face plant into the bowl and get all that goodness. The fried ravioli was the best I've had anywhere. Did not taste like it was frozen and the microwaved. If you are in the area you have to try. Just remember the older folks get there at 5pm and it fills up fast!!! It is dark when you walk in but your eyes eventually adjust. read more

Lucio's Restaurant - Garlic rolls, salad, fettuccine something! - Italian Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

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Beautiful dining room. Waiter over zealous about their everything specials, wine, getting good right. Two of us ordered special ravioli. They looked completely different. I questioned waiter who told me at 1st I was wrong. Only to realize he picked up someone else's. I waited 15minutes for correction order. Others were almost done. Didn't take leftovers not as good as store bought ravioli half the price. read more

Service was excellent Salad was really fresh, cold salad plates and the Gorgonzola dressing was very good. Chicken Francese could have been more lemony and the portion a little bigger. Spaghetti side was cooked perfectly but the marinara was a little too sweet & watery. Cannoli for desert didn't taste like anything. Blueberry cheesecake was right on. No question probably the best Italian food in Franklin read more

Best in Franklin for Italian food, friendly service and ambiance! Just need to be open more often than Thursday-Saturday evening!!

My wife and I have only had the pleasure of dining a Lucio's Restaurant one time. Our only complaint is that it is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 5:00 - 8:00 PM so you have to plan ahead. It's not easy to find either, hidden behind a Chinese takeout restaurant with only a small sign to let you know that it's there. But once you get there, it's so worth it! The food is amazing, the staff are professional, and the decor makes you think you are in some small town in Italy. That a restaurant of this quality can be found in our sleepy little town of Franklin is nothing short of a miracle. read more

Tanya and staff are the best . When you dine there you are "family ". Food is great and the portions are generous. I have been eating there for over 10 years read more

We went there a few weeks ago & it was just okay. Met the chef/owner Lucio. Glad it's so popular. I will give it another chance.

Would recommend. Smaller, but very nice restaurant. All the staff was very nice and kept our drinks filled after a long hot day of hiking. We had calamari fried to perfection, not at all rubbery, as well as escargot, very good. All the entrees come with garlic knots and salad for the table. The server restocked the garlic knots without questions and they were fresh and a great addition to the meal. I did like them but the bottoms became a bit tough as they cooled. The salad is a bowl for the table, unlimited of course. It has dark leafy greens, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and three choices of dressing, serve yourself. The prices are on par for a nice Italian place. Some restaurants will give you a large, shallow plate that looks like a lot of food but is deceiving. That is NOT the case here, you get a lot of pasta and will not go hungry. Make sure to ask about the dessert tray, 10/10 recommend the rum cheese cake read more

Lucio's Restaurant - He even bought a bowl for my seafood shells - Italian Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

Quiet atmosphere great food and service ! Excellently wine selection and tasty deserts ! Recommended! read more

I love Lucios. Small town atmosphere...big city taste. Our waiter was super attentive and friendly. I had prime rib with fettuccine, wife had chicken Alfredo, daughter had chicken parm, and son had spaghetti with two huge meatballs. The fried mozzarella was awesome as an appetizer along with the killer rolls. The house salad is pretty basic but the desserts were amazing. They bring you out a little tray with a live sampling of every dessert on the menu. I love that place. They also have really good veal. read more

Lucio's Restaurant - Prime Rib. - Italian Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

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Don't let the small space fool you, this is really good Italian. Owner originally from Naples (Italy not Florida!). Veal Picatta was delicious, savory, lemony and fresh capers. Garlic rolls required a second helping. Desserts were yummy too. read more

Lucio's is CONSISTANTLY excellent! From the servers to the kitchen, Tanya and her crew put out a feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach! The food is authentic (we lived in Naples, Italy for 4 years), plentiful, and well presented. Their salad is fresh, colorful and cold and the dressings are yummy! We always need more of the knotted garlic rolls. They often have a special that sounds inviting, but we seem to stick with our favorites every time - and that's where the consistency comes in. It's well worth the wait, if you hit it on a busy night...We consider Lucio's a wonderful part of Franklin's food scene and hope they remain open for years to come! read more

Lucio's is definitely a favorite with locals. Before the restaurant opened at 5PM on Thursday, there was a line waiting at the door to get in. Luckily, we were seated as part of the first grouping of eaters. I say luckily, because this place was hopping! Even when we left there was an even longer line waiting to get in. Part of the draw this particular evening may have been the dinner special they were offering (also offered Wednesday nights) - two people pick two entrees (from a specific list - but had plenty of choices) with unlimited salad and fresh garlic rolls for $24. The garlic rolls are worth the price of admission - lovely fresh , oily rolls covered in garlic. The salad was a good standard house salad, presented with a trio of self-serve dressings, one of which a cheesy vinaigrette was really very good. The portions here are such that there is no way you will be leaving without a take-out box. My friends had spaghetti and meatballs, and Penne alla Siciliana, while I tried the daily special, a baked cheese filled rigatoni. The Penne was by far the best and had thin strips of delicious eggplant and Italian sausage. Best part of the meal was the desert tray - there were maybe ten different items, all of which were either made in house or by a local baker. I opted for the Mascarpone Cannoli - much lighter than a Ricotta one but still rich and full of flavor. Great server - never felt rushed - and a generous pour of delicious house Chianti was only $6. Would definitely go again! Get there early to beat the rush! And don't forget the Weds /Thurs dinner special!! read more

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My wife and I had dinner there last night . My wife had an average linguine and clams. I had veal marsala . It was terrible sauce . They had to take it back and give me a second try . That failed also. They then brought me out a chicken Parmesan which was average to say the least . Didn't offer anything of a discount or even a drink . I'd say stay away and keep your money they're overpriced for what you get . The owner was very arrogant saying she had 35 years in this business and knew what she was doing . I believe they didn't have any more Marsala wine in the back and substituted a cheap wine in place . Sorry never going back . read more

What a nice find in Franklin, NC! Better than average Italian with great service. An abundance of food with each meal starting with bread glazed with garlic butter and a generous salad with tasty dressings. Had manicotti (super tender pasta) and shrimp fra diavolo. Couldn't eat it all but wanted to! Wine selection was just ok but most will be able to find something to enjoy. Great selection of desserts too. Excellent finish to a wonderful meal. Good atmosphere with plenty of locals in attendance. Only open Thursday-Saturday for dinner. Definitley stop by when in the area. read more

This looks like an Italian restaurant, but looks can be deceiving. We knew this was going to be a rough dining experience when we were given 3 menus for a party of 14. The meals were hit or big time miss. The veal marsala and the veal picatta were both over priced , tough and chewy. My veal parmigiano was wonderful until my husband tasted it and told me I was given chicken not veal. They were out of seafood. The dressing was very salty. Service was blaze and slow. A few pluses-good salad and garlic rolls. Homemade ravioli and tortellini. We were given our bill with a 20 percent tip added. Really didn't deserve 20 %. But not totally the waitress' fault. The entire restaurant staff was below average. I think they feel it is a tourist area so they don't have to worry about pleasing customers because they are transient. Blah. The sign leaving the parking says Caio. I say goodbye. read more

Lucio's has the best garlic rolls ever! Food is average,prices are above average! The only thing bothers me is,there is no day light inside,so dark! read more

This is the worst place in the world, We had a one hour wait outside--they said half hour Got in and had forty five minute wait for glass wine and water, another 15 minutes foe salad that comes with all meals. Then another half hour for spaghetti dinner---very mediocre Then we asked for one additional wine for the 2 hour wait and the owner, name of Tanya came out screaming at top of voice and told us to get out--most horrible experience ever had at a restaurant. Definitely won,t go back Service poor, food medicore read more

Looked like a true Italian restaurant from the outside even after stepping inside I loved the old Italian decor but no garlic or Italian herb smell in the air at all not to convenience me that it would be outstanding food , I ordered eggplant Parmigiana , I'm not much of a pasta eater so asked for sautéed spinach instead of pasta it wasn't available but they said they had mixed vegetables which I was ok with , when the food arrived it looked ok veggies were great but the eggplant was super thin and a bit tuff with a cheese on top of it that wasn't even melted I believe it was provolone instead of mozzarella the other 4 ppl that I was with two of which had fettuccine Alfredo, they lived it 1 had linguine with a white clam butter lemon sauce she said not much flavor and my sister had eggplant parmigiana as well , same as my review on it . read more

Visited with foodie family in Franklin, who brought us here. Food was fabulous, wait staff friendly, and pricing, especially with the 2-for-one-price special, was very affordable. Specials came with unlimited salad and the fantastic garlic rolls. We had a variety of dishes and everyone was happy with clean plates. We didn't save room for dessert. read more

We had heard about Lucio's since moving to Franklin last summer. Finally tried it this early March. It was fantastic and we will be back many times in the future. The staff is fantastic. We were not pushed through dinner, it was very leisurely served. read more

so... Lucio's is decent, like, Hey let's go to a slightly more expensive Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill except they don't ever change the menu. The salad with the meal is generally good with interesting dressings. read more

We just moved to Franklin, and heard wonderful things about Lucios' We were NOT disappointed! Small restaurant (especially moving from Chicago!) - but oh my! Everything is home made, and it tastes it. The stuffed shells were beyond any Italian restaurant I ever had in Chicago. Paul our waiter was great. Very attentive, and quick. Only reason it's not 5 star, is the buns were a little hard & cold. If they were warm - nothing, and I mean even my Sicilians' Grandma's cooking could stand up to this place. read more

It's been about ten years since my last visit, but the overwhelming smell of garlic at door made me want to kick myself. From the first bite of an appetizer, it's apparent that Lucio's is a living embodiment of long forgotten childhood favorites. Garlic and barely cooked tomato sauces led the way to great flavor. The current trend with the best restaurants is to make very obscure ingredients sing. Lucio's is a prime example of very familiar items that are so comforting and flavorful, that I would take this over new "cheffy" cuisine any day. I ate so much of the huge salad with homemade gorgonzola dressing that my place setting looked like a war zone. The lasagna was also perfectly balanced with some of the best ricotta I've tried in a while. I asked my parents why they slammed this place, and the answer was "service". Who cares?... the food is great! read more

Good food, but, they do not take reservations and they're popular. As such, a long wait, outside, is inevitable. This detail doesn't matter to the management read more

Came here on our last night in town, well with the wait. The atmosphere is casual, romantic with candles on the tables and soft music playing in the background. The garlic rolls were amazing. I ordered the spaghetti with mozzarella marinara. The mozzarella tasted fresh even after being lightly fried. My wife ordered the manicotti. She said the noodles were so soft and fresh that she said you didn't need to work hard to cut them. The food comes with garlic rolls and salad so be prepared to take home leftovers. Don't expect a quick meal, but they were short handed the night we were in so that may have affected things some. I would not hesitate to recommend this place. read more

Lucio's Restaurant - Spaghetti with mozzarella marinara - Italian Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

Disappointed. Visited tonight and everything was underwhelming. Rolls were burned on the bottom and so hard, I couldn't cut them a with knife. Food did not come across as made on sight but a cooked frozen meal. Salad dressings made on site and only offered 3 to choose from. Nothing I'd heard of before and all were oil based. I know this is a little detail but the napkins were unhemmed, raw, unraveling materials. I can not recommend. read more

Wife and I have eaten here a handful of times. The food is usually very good. Service is average. Salad served before the main dish. The dressings are very good. We love the blue cheese dressing. It's unusually tasty without being overbearing. Last meal, I had the Manicotti and my wife had the spaghetti with sausage and peppers. Both meals were excellent. Of note, the spaghetti meals are tremendous. If you're really hungry, that's your ticket! The manicotti was portioned well and the ricotta was fantastically smooth and creamy. The single biggest issue I have with the restaurant is the placement of the server station. So far, we have been unfortunate enough to be seated adjacent to the serve station every time! The servers tend to congregate there, next to our table, usually chatting and watching us eat or talk. They use the phone there as well. They'll even use the table next to us to fold napkins or make place settings. My suggestion: swap the server counter with the wine racks. Or don't... Just don't stand over my table while I'm talking or eating with my wife. Fix that and the rating goes to five stars. read more

I've been coming here with my parents for years. The staff is always very friendly and the restaurant is very clean. We love their salad and the homemade dressings that come with it. Their garlic rolls are really tasty and pair well with their dishes. I love their pizzaiola sauce and I most recently got in over veal. The have a nice deal for weeknights where you can get two dishes for $23.50- which makes the restaurant more affordable for those wishing to be more frugal. I suggest coming early because it does get pretty busy around 5 when they open and they are a smaller restaurant. Overall, this is a nice place to come for a celebratory dinner or a romantic date night. read more

I was really excited to find some place to eat in this town. As I walked in, I saw a sign that said to state your business and leave quietly. We should have left then. But there isn't many choices to pick from. The dining area was very nice. The lights were low and several TVs were playing sports. Great! I got into a car race on one of the TVs. Just as number 33 was winning, an old grumpy man stepped out from behind the bar and turned the volume off, then turned on some soft jazz. OK, fine. As I sit and look around, I found a rack card on the table with a note that advised they don't take credit nor debit cards. Well snap! We only had a few bucks between us and the order was made. Thankfully we had enough to pay! Any who, dinner came. I ordered chicken Parmesan. I could tell right away it was pre made, lord knows how long ago. There was dried, hard pasta long the edges. When I tried to cut the chicken, the edges were over cooked and hard. All signs of a meal that was pre made and frozen before thawed and nuked, or nuked while frozen. For a $10 plate, I expected a little more than a pre made, microwaved meal. The sauce was not bad, but not good either. During our meal, the grumpy old man kept messing with the light dimmer next to our table. It was annoying. If you go there bring cash. But, I'd rather go hungry until I get home. I hated the food and won't go back. read more

Lucio's Restaurant - Chicken Parmesan. Sorry folks. I didn't think of taking a pic into after I ate. But I promise, you're not missing much - Italian Near Me - Franklin, North Carolina

Great memory's! This place has been here since I was a kid. Great then and great now. One of the best places to eat in Franklin. Consistence of goodness. read more

Best eggplant parm I've ever tasted. Love the service, love the food.

What a horrible experience ! Our party of 6 waited over an hour to get in after being told there was a half hour wait. Once seated we waited 20 minutes to order then 15 for water & a carafe of wine. Then after 45 minutes we finally got our salads & roll. Still waiting for our main course, we finally questioned the waitress about the hold up! Shortly after, the owner came to our table and started screaming about this not being a fast food restaurant and told us to leave! read more

I love this place great food very nice atmosphere and friendly staff I would recommend it

Another great meal at Lucios. The veal cannelloni was magnificent!!the service was even better!! A "must-try" in Franklin!!

Horrible and illegal customer service!!!! They offered me a to go cup for wine I didn't finish at the table. Literally a white styrofoam cup with a straw!! They also charged my credit card twice and refused to refund me. They said I needed to call my bank. Food wasn't that great either! read more

One of the best restaurants to eat at in Franklin! The food, atmosphere, and staff were excellent.

They have THE BEST steak in the town of Franklin. NC, for the best price. Without a doubt the best Italian cuisine in three counties. Food and service is among the best if not THE best. read more

We were from out of town and this restaurant was listed on the hotel's "favored by our guests" list. We went on a Saturday night and only had a short wait. The dining room was dark with cobweb covered decor circa 1980. The waitress advised us of the specials and made some recommendations. The rolls that came were dinner rolls available at any grocery store that were covered in large quantities of garlic and parsley. Two of the four were so hard they were inedible. The mozzarella appetizer was ok. The tortellini ("fresh" on the menu) were obviously frozen. The Chicken Breast A La Lucio served over pasta was ok, accept it was obvious that the pasta was not finished in the pan with the mushroom sauce because it had no flavor and the sauce was quite runny. The salad with the meal was good, but overall the meal was quite disappointing and if you have an ounce of Italian blood in your body - save your money or try the Chinese restaurant next door. read more