Lucca Restaurant
Categories: American (New), Greek and Mediterranean [Edit]
1615 J StSacramento, CA 95814 (916) 669-5300
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
57 Reviews for Lucca Restaurant
Good food, nice atmosphere. I am a bit bias because my sister is a friend of the bartender and knows the chef, so we get great service and great conversation. The prices are pretty decent, the bartenders are good and flirty, the wine list is very good, but the desert is only decent. I'll probably be back before heading back out east.
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went here on june 14. see Stacy K's (fairfield, ca) review...i was there with her.
the service was the most horrible service i've experienced! the next time a server tells us that we were short on the tab I will have to tell them there was no mistake...your service sucked, therefore the tip was reduced!
this is the down side of going to restaurants that tack on gratuties for large parties! you don't get your water refilled, nor do they come by and ask if you need more alcoholic drinks or just plain come by and check! don't be a server if you can't handle it!
the food was OK! the appetitizer was the best food on the table...fried zucchini and pita bread (?).
Made a reservation for a party of ten one week prior to our "supposed" reservation date, but when I walked in to say my name, my name wasn't written down--anywhere! The employee to whom I spoke to failed to write my name down and bonkers, I didn't get that employee's first + last name. A sore lesson learned for the next time, I say.
The restaurant was able to seat all ten of us at one table, but the hostess was a bit rude and had an icky attitude. When she needed to speak with me, instead of calling out, " ma'am," she referred to me as , " hey, girl!" What the???? I wasn't expecting that type of calling out from someone especially after my reservation was messed up.
We ordered our food but it took about one hour for our food to come. We understood that we were a big party,but our waitress didn't even appease us by saying that it's coming shortly or that she apologizes for the long wait or even, guess this... refill our water glasses or ask us if we needed more alcoholic drinks--hello!?!
Our food was good. The appetizers were scrumptions. Loved the zucchini chips and the mizthra flatbread that is served with hummus and olive tapia.
A bunch of us had the saffron seafood risotto which was a wee bit salty for my sensitive pallette, otherwise, it was good.
Dessert was ok. We ordered the phyllo dough with bananas and the creme brulee. I didn't get the chance to try the creme brulee, but the banana dessert was good. It was basically, sautee'd banana's with vanilla ice cream in a phyllo dough bowl.
This restaurant would have had a total of 4 stars, but I had to dock one star due to their horrible + slow service. They need to hire a hostess with MORE mostess and a waitress that knows how to cater to her customers without a sourpuss face.
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Wow. Can't say enough good things about Lucca.
We booked a dinner party here and it could not have been more easy! Glenn Stewart and the banquet staff are wonderful. We brought a case of wine and they waived corkage bottle for bottle if we supplemented with their wine. The food was, as always, fabulous. When our guests got rowdy, the servers were still as professional as could be. They even gave us some space for 30 minutes while we (surprise!) got married between dinner and dessert. It was a very memorable evening and Lucca definitely contributed to it's success.
If you need to book a dinner party, consider Lucca. And don't forget...zucchini chips on every table!
There is something for everyone in this place! As David L. said, it's a mid-range priced restaurant with an upscale feel. And the food is good enough that I'd put it to taste test with Ella (down the street, costing 2-3 times as much).
The food is delicious - and you don't have to leave thinking about all the fantastic shoes you've been coveting that you could have purchased instead. It's totally doable to have dinner for two for $50.
Try for sure:
Wine - the tempranillo
Entrees - Sausage and Mushroom Paparadelle - it's fresh, handmade pasta, in a salty (in a good way) cream sauce. Steak Frites - good for your meat-and-potatoes friend. Stuffed Acorn Squash - this will fill up the most voracious vegetarian, and the pesto sauce pulls it all together. The seafood risotto, if you like risotto.
The shrimp cocktail, salads, and soups are all good - especially the butternut squah soup. And there are specials every night.
The service is good, but it can be crowded and there can be a wait even if you have a reservation.
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I've actually been here a few times for lunch and dinner.
For lunch, we got the Zucchini chips as an appetizer and I had the Grilled Chicken Club. I would pass on the Zucchini chips as they were a bit salty but the Chicken Club was good!
For dinner, we sat out on their covered patio. It was a little chilly, so we were put right in front of the fireplace. Nice! We ordered some white wine, the Cioppino and the Lucky Dog Ranch Beef burger. I had a little of both and they were good. We topped it off with some chocolaty concoction called Death by Chocolate. I think the name says it all!
I think next time I'll try a pasta dish. It has been good food and atmosphere.
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Here's how I found Lucca:
I went to a conference in downtown Sacramento. For dinner, two friends and I decided to check our conference's restaurant guide, sticking to the one-dollar-sign places due our conference-going experiences *not* being funded by our departments. So we settled on Lucca. It looked really crowded, but I squeezed in and got my name on the list. 15 minutes, said she. About 90 seconds later, they called us in.
Our pleasure at getting in so quickly evaporated as we were led through the restaurant. "CRAP!" said the thought bubbles over our heads. "This place is far too hip to be cheap! Clearly the '$' rating meant that each item is $10 or less but it's one of those tapas-type places where one must order four different $9 items in order to fill one's tummy! WOE! But we're too embarrassed to back out now! Also, our waiter is cute and European!"
So with looks of faint dismay we found ourselves on the pretty back patio, anticipating oncoming wallet drainage.
But! We were saved. The prices are quite reasonable for the quality of the food alone, never mind the ambience and decor. I had a vegetable entree that was just wonderful, with really good, savory polenta. I've always been "meh" on polenta before, but this made me a believer. My friends were also very happy with their dishes (a risotto and a pasta). Excellent California-inflected European entrees ($10-16) and nice fries with truffle oil. Desserts looked good, but we were full.
Minuses: Dear waiter, we did not kick your puppy; we only declined to order any wine. Love, us. P. S. Please work on your water-pouring technique. I had, like, a teaspoon of water and 18 ounces of ice. I think I was dehydrated afterwards.
I highly recommend trying Lucca to feel like you're getting more than your money's worth. Also, if you can clone Lucca and bring it to Fremont, CA, I'll be your best friend.
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I met a friend for lunch.
Very good ambiance and good food.
We both had the steak salad,
good cuts of beef, prepared well and medium well.
I chose a pinot grigio to start,
but the waitress suggested a spanish wine instead.
Excellent choice!
The food was great. I had the shrimp linguine, which had jumbo shrimps, great seasonings and the pasta was al dente! They had a full bar, so I ordered Ketel One lemon drops! Slurp!
Great prices for the quality and quantity.
Service was excellent--attentive without hovering. Decor was nice. It was nice on the inside, but we sat in the patio, as it was such a gorgeous and warm day out.
Parking is street and metered but not a problem.
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Had no reservations on Friday night at 7pm. We were seated immediately on the back patio. Three of us dined here:
Waters (no drinks)
Bread and olive oil / balsamic dip.
Seafood Linguine (great)
Chicken Saltimbocca (sp) (great)
Spaghetti and Meatballs (great)
Banana Slices, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Walnuts, with phyllo dough and Sauce (great)
Bill: 52.00
Really great deal for a quality experience all the way through!
I tried this place a few months back with a friend from stockton. we both love to wine and dine. we both started off with the mixed greens salad with aged gouda, tart apples, pecans, brandy vinaigrette. enjoyed a glass of cabernet. they have a great selection of wine. for our main courses, my friend had a seafood risotto, but agreed that my prawn linguine with tomato, spinach, lobster cream with shaved manchego cheese was very tasty.
we had a private dinner in the restaurants back room. we had exceptional service. even chatted it up with the manager of the night. the restaurant and nightlife has definitely improved in sacramento.
i would definitely go back.
hoping for a better seat next time...by the door isnt fun because you dont get to see the full extent of the decor. the patio looked nice too...
service was friendly and attentive - but not in your face. i appreciate a waitress smiling when she's talking about specials. doesnt have to be cheesy, just happy, you know?
okay - as far as the menu goes, lots of variety and reasonable prices.
i had the cioppino - pretty good. broth sure was tasty. the bread to dip in the broth was a perfect touch. as for the seafood in the dish - nothing to get excited about but enjoyable. not a huge portion of seafood either, which is fine if you aren't expecting a huge pot of steamin' food.
the boytoy had the "Crispy Duck Confit & grilled garlic sausage, flageolet beans braised with smoked bacon, olive oil breadcrumbs". I don't eat duck or sausage, but he claims the was happy with it. He didnt seem too excited over it either.
for dessert i let him decide and it figures that he chose the most overplayed italian dessert dish - tiramisu. however - i was very pleasantly surprised! this S was perfect. we split it and it was plenty for us both.
going to give this place another try sometime after ive hit a few others that have been on the list for a while...perhaps the mains will wow me a little more then.
I organized a group dinner here this past second Saturday, and despite my concern that I wouldn't be able to make 20 very different women happy in one restaurant, this seemed to do the trick.
The food was all excellent. Prices aren't cheap, but they are reasonable for the quality, atmosphere, and the serving size.
I would highly recommend Lucca's for a group dinner.
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Che bella! Che delicioso! Benissimo tutti! I brought my staff here when we attended a convention recently to celebrate one of their birthdays. They could not have been nicer- especially since we asked lots of questions about the menu (I think the waitstaff called one of my teachers Sally...)
Great salads, but I have to say the risotto was outstanding. Seafood risotto. with lots of mussels, shrimp and scallops- creamy, savory, melt in your mouth goodness.
The tiramisu was perfectly balanced and the had Albarino on the wines by the glass list- I could not have been happier.
The best part was that we accommodated a Catholic on Friday (fish) during Lent, a Buddhist vegetarian and the rest of us gluttonous heathens and I thought the prices were reasonable given the service, decor and food. I admit, I was disappointed because the online menu had a stuffed acorn squash I was all set to order when i walked in the door, and then it wasn't on the menu. But the risotto cured it. Good risotto cures all things.
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I've been to this place four times for dinner and have yet to have a meal that was good. You would think at least one out of four times something would have been good, especially considering the price. The location is great and the huge open windows are awesome in the summer, but the food has been crap every time I've eaten there.
So do yourself a favor, grab a drink there, but go somewhere else to eat.
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Food:
The mussels! And any of their chicken plates are spectacular.
Drinks:
They make a killer martini here.
Customer Service:
Pretentious at times, but not overbearing. The food runner boys are hot kinda sorta.
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I've been to Lucca quite a few times and I always leave satisfied. The risotto is always perfect. I enjoy the salmon quite a bit. The bread is yummy. The creme brulee is heavenly. I love the decor, especially the bull painting. Their drinks are always good and strong. I've never had anything negative to say about the service.
Minus one star for the strange wait area. It isn't nearly big enough. The last time I went we had reservations but still had to wait about 10 minutes and we didn't have anywhere to stand. I kept getting bumped by people. It was annoying...but the creme bruleee made it all better.
Loved Lucca. Me not from Sacramento, but was here for business (well my lover was; it was vacation for me lol). We chose to go to Lucca because we read that the Governator likes to eat here when he's in town. Although we didnt see him the night we went, we were not disappointed. We thought the food was very very very reasonably priced. For appetizer we had the homemade Spanish style sausage with herb salsa, which was fabulous! The sausage was rolled into the shape of a meatball and one was placed on the each of of a skewer; I think we had 3 skewers total. The salsa tasted like ketchup with a kick; it tasted better and better with each dip. For dinner we had the duck confit with sausage, beans, and bacon and the braised short ribs with peas, carrots, onions, and mash. The bf enjoyed his ribs, which he described as perfect--they fell off the bone just the way he liked. I had the duck dish, which is basically a cassoulet. Cassoulets I've had in the past were more mushy. The beans in Lucca's cassoulet were still whole; I'd prefer for them to have been mushed up. Other than that, I enjoyed it. The dishes were very generous in portion--I was able to only half of my dish. The dinner came out to around $38, which was a bargain! Service here was good and I liked that we were seated within a few mins of arriving without a reservation. So if you're in town for business at the convention center and are looking for a good place to eat that wont break your company's per diem budget for you, head to Lucca.
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Great entrees (especially the duck and the gnocchi) and outstanding service for a very large party. The appetizers were ok; I was underwhelmed by the crab cakes and they were so small! I loved all the different meal size options. Good bar and great accomodation of a split tab. I look forward to coming here again when I have to money to spend.
I use to come here for lunch when I felt like treating myself. I worked a few blocks down from there. It was one of our favorite lunch locations. The governator apparently frequents the place and has a special table and salad. We saw him twice when dining there.
It's one of my favorite restaurants in Sacramento. I usually have a good time and the service has always been friendly. Sometimes a bit slow but rarely. Even when it is, I haven't noticed because I'm pretty happy there.
I think their zucchini chips are tasty. I like the duck legs. One of my favorites. The steak frites for lunch is also a good choice. I've enjoyed the Papperdell as well as the risotto. You really can't go wrong with the choices.
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I really enjoy Lucca.
B and I visited on Tuesday evening for our wedding anniversary and we were not disappointed.
We were seated in their back dining area which was nice because it was much quieter than the front of the restaurant. I guess this doesn't work for everyone though, as another couple refused to sit back
there....maybe they go out to eat and be seen?
We started with the Mizithra flat-bread. It was warm and crispy with a side of hummus and olive tapenade. Also included is a small dish of their amazing olives. I encourage everyone to try the olives. They have a faint citrus flavor to them that is just amazing!
My entree was the Chicken Saltimbocca ("Jump in the mouth!" is the translation of saltimbocca I have been told). It was out of this world! Incredibly tender with a fontina cheese center and wrapped in pancetta. The mashed potatoes it came with were delish. My only criticism would be that I prefer to have a little more vegetable matter with my meals and was craving a side of asparagus or broccoli to go with it.
B ordered the risotto with chicken and sweet peas. It had a wonderful flavor and was perfectly cooked.
Unfortunately we were too full for desert but I have heard a rave review from a co-worker about their bananas in phyllo pastry, so I will have to give that a try next time.
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YUM. I came here for a business lunch right after I first started my job. Despite being sort of stressed out because it was my first day of work, I was wearing a business suit (always uncomfortable--well, compared to t-shirt and jeans anyways), and I was trying to make a good impression on my new co-workers, I was impressed by how good the food was.
The crowd (keep in mind it was a weekday lunch) seems like politicians and lawyers, but it's a great open space that has a lot of light.
I got the meatloaf (it was called the Mad Dog or Crazy Cow or something *different* like that) and it was excellent. Also tried a bite of the carpaccio (my first time) and it was really flavorful. Portions are large. I know it's an Italian place so next time, I promise to go back and actually order Italian food next time.
Good drinks, good food, good service
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I went here with a LARGE group (30-40 people) for a anniversary that turned into a wedding! The restaurant has a big room in the back that seats a lot of people (I'd say 150). and the food in delicious! I had the chicken risotto, and also tried the beef, and salmon dishes which were also excellent. I was impressed with the quality for a large group. also, valet parking was only $5, and they didn't steal any thing out of the car!
I absolutely LOVED my experience at Lucca this past weekend.
We had reservations so were promptly seated at a nice spot outside. At first it was a little on the chilly side, but they have these huge heaters above the tables which made it a lot better. The atmosphere outside was great, nice candle lit garden-y feeling.
Our server was probably the best server ever. He knew EVERYTHING about the food on the menu. He memorized the specials of the evening so well, describing them to the tee, he made everything sound very appealing and appetizing. It was like he was telling a story, Ch1 appetizers, Ch2 entrees, Ch3 dessert. I was loving it.
The soup special was a mushroom bisque with truffle oil drizzled on top...BEST mushroom soup ever. I'm not joking. I had a taste of it and immediately wished that I had ordered it. I went with fettuccine special with the slowly simmered beef/red wine ragu. Also, amazing, really good. Tasted exactly like what the server described it would be like.
For dessert our table shared the white chocolate raspberry swirl gelato and the creme brulee (hazelnut, caramel & chocolate) sampler type thing. The gelato was thick and creamy and you could taste the freshness of the raspberry puree swirl in it.
Everything about my night at Lucca was great. Super attentive and friendly server, great food and atmosphere.
I really cant believe these are the same people that own Roxy...Roxy could learn a lot from this place.
Minus only one star because their waiting area is extremely small. And they ran out of gnocchi which I originally wanted to order. I suggest you have reservations so you are not stuck being sardined for a while.
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Who knew that a restaurant could build up street 'cred from being the governator favorite dining spot?
I guess you could say it's somewhere in between Italian and California cuisine. The service was phenomenal and the decor was absolutely lovely. I would definitely try to come back here the next time I'm in Sacramento.
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I've dined at Lucca twice now and have thoroughly enjoyed both experiences, rapidly making Lucca one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Sacramento.
The atmosphere is classy, but not snobby. The environment is cozy, friendly and romantic. Lucca is a great place to enjoy a pleasant meal with a loved one.
The food is excellent...from the bread, to the salads, to the main course. I've enjoyed the whole wheat pasta with chicken, gnocchi, chicken, and mahi mahi. All were well prepared, tasty with excellent sauces, and hearty portions. Service was fast and friendly. I would consider Lucca an upscale restaurant; however, prices are very reasonable.
Overall, I highly recommend Lucca...its a wonderful option for Italian.
We were staying in downtown Sacramento and wanted a local place to grab dinner. I am glad we chose Lucca. We walked right in and got a place on the outside patio.
The decor is nice. The staff is pleasant. It seemed lively inside.
The food was pretty good. We ordered some apps, soup, salad, and entrees. I wasn't too impressed with the burger. The wine list was good.
We were so full, we couldn't eat dessert.
We would go back again.
Five stars all round. Impeccable service, fresh ingredients, yummy risotto, warm (and romantic) outdoor seating in addition to the great crowd make this my favorite place to dine in Sacramento.
The service is consistent and the dining room(s) are always filled with a warm crowd.
The salmon is always on the menu and I would like to see some spontaneity with the presentation and preparation of this wonderful dish, but each time I do order the salmon, flavors/texture are consistent.
When I'm away from home, this is the first place I look forward to dining upon my arrival in Sacramento.
Whether you're with a dozen guests or a date, you are sure to enjoy this place.
How in the world have I not reviewed Lucca yet?
I heart Lucca lots. Lots and lots and...well, lots. I have not had anything off their menu that didn't make me pull a Giada Laurentiis-style, eyes rolling up in back of head and moaning "mmm" action. Their risotto is perfect. Creamy, with just the right amount of spice and the right-sized portions. Those steamed oysters are heavenly. I want to climb in one of the shells and eat my way out. Their creme brulee dessert is excellent, but the pot de creme is simply to die for. I experienced great service whenever I've dined at Lucca. They have something for everyone.
I'm docking Lucca one star because, frankly, I hate the way it's set up. I realize I'm not the Governor, but why do you guys keep seating me in places where the waiters can barely get by and I run a high risk of getting myself knocked out by passing dinner plates? Also, I think their wine selection could be a bit better.
Oh. I am young and have not yet checked out my need for Botox (maybe in a few years?). I like to consider myself upwardly-mobile, though, so maybe that's why I love the Lucca. ;)
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Went there with 6 ppl this past weekend for a bday dinner. Decor was nice and elegant, and room was spacious. It had a good atmosphere and ppl seemed to be enjoying themselves. The food was actually pretty good...I had the steak which was done pretty well.
My BIGGEST problem with my experience was the horror of our server, Laura. She must have had a bad day because for 2 hrs we endured scoffs, eye-rolls, grumbles, etc you name it, she gave it. We're not sure what we did wrong as we were as nice to everyone as we could be, but it certainly dampened our otherwise good time. She even at one pt gave us the dirty look from afar. None of us knew what what the issue, but we left with a bitter taste in our mouths. We still gave her a 15% tip since the bill was large, but we probably shouldn't have.
On the way out, the mgr Jordan asked us how we enjoyed our dinner, and that's when we let him know our displeasure. He was shocked, to say the least, and promised to make it up to us the next time we went. He gave us his card and pledged to get to the bottom of it, so I appreciated his sincerity. I certainly hope that lady gets over her problem, but I'll spend my $50 elsewhere next time.
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This place is classy, clean, and the food is good. The service is very good but the parking is lousy. A solid four stars.
I recently went here to celebrate the departure of two friends. I have to admit, everyone left happy, and thats actually saying a lot, as the group I went with consists of one muslim (no pork), two vegetarians (no meat), and several very picky people (complain about everything).
In my opinion, the beauty of Lucca's is that it comes off as a high end restaurant, when in reality the prices are more than reasonable. The menu contains a number of pasta dishes around $11, and I believe the most expensive entree tops out at about $15. But dont think the food is cheap or mediocre based on the prices. I went with the duck confit over a bed of lentils, and that was amazing. The duck was extremely juicy and tender, only a fork was needed to enjoy it. Likewise the beef braised short ribs were just as tender. No knife needed to enjoy that as well. Several pasta dishes were also enjoyed, and also produced the same smile that only a good, fulfilling meal can produce.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say that it would be nice if they had more beers on tap. They only had 3 when we were there, and although the Moretti was good, I was really in the mood for a pint of Stella. However, with that being the most serious of my concerns, I'd have to say I'd recommend Lucca's to anyone.
And, as some have already mentioned, get the zuchinni chips. Nothing exceptional, but still fun to snack on.
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Excellent food complimented by great service.
I went to Lucca with some friends last night.
The ambiance is great in the restaurant. Nice decor, lights, and plates/utensils. They lit a candle for our table on the patio.
We started off with the mussels on the hot sizzling plate served with some butter dipping sauce. It was very delicious and the serving size was plentiful for 7 people.
Next, we had the special salads and soups (see the pictures I uploaded)
then I tried the chicken risotto.
Food quality is excellent and great flavors without being overly salty. not too greasy.
Yummy food and good service so I give it 4 stars. Prices are reasonable and a great place to eat.
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This is a great place, great atmosphere and great food. The polenta rocks and is a meal in itself!! The service is usually good, but management can be a bit pretentious. Overall, it is a great place to meet up and have a great meal with a super ambiance.
This review is for Lucca's happy hour- It is a fantastic deal and I highly recommend it. From 4-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday they have drinks starting at $3 (great house wine) and appetizers starting at $2.
We ordered 2 glasses of wine, Bruschetta, veggie platter and hummus with bread sticks and our bill was just $14. All of the appetizers were really good- especially the Bruschetta. They bartender was totally on top of things and provided some great friendly service.
To top it off, they have some comfy chairs!!
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This is supposedly the Govenator's favorite place to eat in Sac, so what's good for Arnold must be good for us too right?
For the most part I really can't complain about the food. I can't say it was bad, nor can I say it was great. The Chicken w/ pancetta was very tender and pretty flavorful, but nothing to write home about. We also got the Confit Duck which was quite gamy. The Cioppino was full of seafood and was fairly abundant.
The pricing is mixed. I feel they overcharge for some dishes (duck), some are good values (i.e. Chicken), and some are just right (i.e. Cioppino).
The best thing about this place is the decor and atmosphere. It's a beautifully laid out restaurant with exceptional lighting and fixtures. The service was good as well.
However there was no Arnold sighting : (.
This restaurant was extremely pretentious for no good reason. Sure the atmosphere looks cool and the food is pretty good for such cheap prices. An average entree is only about 12 dollars which is pretty good for seafood and such. I'm from the bay area and our restaurants typically charge $20 and up so I thought this was a great deal.
The wait staff was extremly rude. I will NEVER visit this restaurant again and I strongly recommend that if you are looking for a pleasant evening, do not go here.
Our first visit to the restaurant was great which is why my boyfriend and I decided to take his whole family there to celebrate their family reunion as well as my birthday.
Our waiter, Joe, was the biggest jerk through out the entire meal. On my first visit there was a choice of greens or soup. I asked for the greens when i was ordering this time and he gave me a stupid look and asked me what type. I was not sure as i did not have a choice before and began to describe what greens they were that i had last time. He says to me in the most condescending manner, "how would i know what you had last time". The jerk could have asked how long ago that was in order to help me figure out what it was i had...ANYTHING but "HOW WOULD I KNOW?".
My boyfriend's very old grandmother who flew in from out of state for this disaster of an evening still did not have her dessert after every one else was finishing.. she was having the same as a few others at the table btw. My future brother in law asked joe very nicely when she could expect hers. Joe says, "i SAID it will be coming out soon". WTF? who talks like that? nevermind that... we were all wondering who it was exactly he told the dessert was coming soon. He told NO ONE.
I couldn't get a glass of wine from that guy if my life depended on it. It was my birthday and I dont know about every one else but I was expecting to celebrate with about 4 glasses. I couldn't even catch a nice buzz to forget about what a jerk our waiter was. We were there for almost 2 hours and I STRUGGLED to get the 3 i did get. It took me, my boyfriend, and his sister several requests before i could get refills. Not only that but the rest of our glasses were constantly on empty.
And there is NO reason someone should have to lean their whole pelvis on someone to take another's order or to clear dishes but that is what Joe did! It was kind of embarrassing how he kept doing that to me. I dont understand when there was plenty of room. This has NEVER happened to me before. I had to keep ducking out of the way and even said, "excuse me". He just gave me a dirty look.
OHHHH AND THE TOPPER!! Our bill for 8 people plus tax and tip came out about 450 bucks. My boyfriend finds out later that they charged his card the 450 bucks plus 20% percent. Why 20% over? We call the restaurant and they tell us that that is customary. I have eaten at every great, expensive and cheap restaurant anyone can think of. I have never been charged this 20 percent above the entire bill as a hold before. But here is the topper.... they charged him TWICE. It took DAYS to get the other charge taken off and the 20 percent corrected. Good thing we weren't on a tight budget. Another poor guy hoping to take a girl out on the town would have had a nice surprise for him when he got declined later because the restaurant tied up all of his funds.
I am PISSED that i had to give this guy a minimum tip. I would have normally gone to the manager right then and complained but I am still semi new to my boyfriend's family and did not want to cause any scene.
Try calling to speak to a manager... you'll find the jerk that answers the phone to be just as good as the wait staff. Try asking for Glen. He'll know exactly how not to help. We finally got in touch with a nice accounting lady who took care of the charges. The guy, Glen, wouldn't even give us the manager's name so we could get the bill straightened out.
How embarrassing it was for us to treat our 8 guests to this horrible experience. I should have taken them across the street to Hamburger Marys. At least the wait staff there wouldn't have ruined my birthday and our family reunion. I was appalled at the level of service (or lack thereof). This shouldn't be considered a "nice'" restaurant. It is average at best. I have no idea why the waiter harbored such animosity. I tip really nicely; at least 25 percent or more because i love nothing better than a great dining experience. I don't even understand what we did to deserve such treatment. I was truly shocked and I hope no one has to go through that again. Take your money elsewhere. It is NOT worth it.
And if you're in the south bay try: Original Joe's for wonderful wonderful service or AP Stumps in downtown San Jose.
Update: I didn't learn until this whole thing that my now husband meant to propose to me that night. They ruined the whole thing. And grandma can't travel much... we will never have that reunion again.
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I feel I have to do this place some justice. I love it. The ambiance, the food, and the staff are all great. I've been there twice so far and everything I've had has been exceptional.
My favorites include the flat bread appetizer with olive tapenade and lentil puree, arugula salad with strawberries, ricotta gnocchi with spicy marinara sauce, and the pork loin chop with spinach and polenta. The polenta was the best I've ever had. Pork is not my favorite meat but I tried it anyway. It was juicy and flavorful -- I found myself practically gnawing on the bone when I was finished.
My only concern was this: both times I dined, my friends and I had a bottle of too warm red wine at the bar while we waited for our table (we didn't have reservations). The hostess came to seat us and we had to carry our opened bottle of wine to our table. Is that customary? I'm not sure. I thought they were supposed to carry the bottle for us? I don't really care, I just felt weird carrying a bottle around the restaurant. I'm not in the biz nor am I a snob that I expects everyone else to do things for me but I'm curious about the protocol? Any thoughts?
Nevertheless, check out Lucca. It's great.
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stay away from lucca...i've been there twice. once my boyfriend got food poisoning from the steak salad (this was during their soft opening years ago) and the other was about a month ago when the food was sooo oversalted, one bite made me dehydrated (3 of us ordered this special - the beef ragu pasta - and one person's pasta was fine but the other two were saltville to the max; so obviously they're inconsistent with their seasoning).
the two of us who got the oversalted pasta sent them back and got replacements. her chicken caesar was fine, but stupid me, i got another pasta special. again, super oversalted.
also, the zucchini chips appetizers were so heavily sodden with old oil that they were inedible.
the worst part of the meal was that as we were eating, a HUGE cockroach, at least 3 inches long (seriously) landed on one of my co-workers shoulders. and the wait staff was like, "don't worry, we don't think it came from the kitchen." wtf?!?!
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