Lucciola Restaurant Reviews

We stopped by Lucciolas purely out of interest because they have individual dining outdoor pods (tents) and other open air tables. Located in the Westend and on a corner street. Service was good. Prices are upscale starting at $27 for basic pasta dishes and upwards for meat & fish but all good fare and carefully prepared. Lots of satisfied diners from our observations.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Lucciola probably a week or ten days after it had opened, and the restaurant was already packed, which in my opinion speaks to how great it is (word of mouth spreads quickly!). The owners and the Chef are all Italian, so you're getting the real Italian experience. The food is absolutely delicious, especially the lasagna, which is to die for! There are many other great options on the menu, but if you like lasagna, I recommend you order it, you will not regret it. Lucciola is a little more spacious than its little sibling(s) Piccolo Cafe and you can book a table in advance, which is very convenient. It's tastefully decorated and service was very friendly. If you like deserts, I must also recommend the chocolate mousse - it was so delicious, that we ordered more! If you find yourself on the Upper West Side, I highly, highly recommend Lucciola. I will be back very soon!

I don’t remember when we last had such an extraordinarily good dinner. I don’t often write reviews, but I really think Lucciola deserves to be congratulated. The restaurant itself is not particularly prepossessing, with the outside area having ugly weights on the roof poles made of black garbage bags, and the chairs not very comfortable. But that was all forgotten when we began our dinner. My husband had pork chops and I had lamb chops. We thought the were expensive, but they turned out to be worth every penny, with shaved black truffle (his) and shaved white truffle (mine), and a wonderful potato gratin. Beyond delicious and cooked to perfection. The service was great too. They took a while with our main courses (we hadn’t really noticed), so brought us free mushroom/truffle toasts while we waited, which were lovely. Then the chef also brought us a free serving of fabulous fresh burrata cheese with olive oil and herbs. So much food that we brought a lot home, and had no room for desert. But, really, the food was worthy of any very high-end New York restaurant. Lucky for us, this restaurant is in our neighborhood (we’ll definitely be back), but it’s worth a special trip to the Upper West Side.

Staff pushed expensive dishes (an ordinary small hanger steak, marked in the menu at market price, ended up being 90 dollars), service was terribly slow, portions were ridiculously small and we all got stingy eyes for some mysterious reason. A “prosciutto ragù tagliatelle” dish ended up being a microscopic (!!!) plate of tomato sauce based pasta with three pieces of prosciutto on top - I was born and raised in Italy and I wouldn’t know what that is. Abusive. NOT a repeat

My family's first time here. I chose the restaurant because of its reviews. The food was fine. Unfortunately, the service was awful. After our appetizers and taken away, our table was essentially forgotten about. The waiter did not pour wine from the bottle we bought and finished, asked if we wanted another bottle or had any other interaction with our table in this very small restaurant. Waitstaff did refill our water. After an hour had passed since our apps, I asked the waiter the status of our mains. He was apologetic, offered to comp us each a glass of wine and said the kitchen was in the weeds, but the chef (and the waiter) were visiting other tables during this time. I think our order had simply been forgotten entirely. For well over an hour, an employee or friend of theirs stood with the staff at the front of the restaurant in a T-shirt, 4-5 feet from my wife, looking at the tables. The chef, who was supposedly in the weeds, had the time to give him a bowl of food and drizzle something on it, so he could eat standing while watching the tables. It was quite distracting. It's hard to reconcile our experience with the reviews that inspired us to visit.

Excellent Italian on the UWS. Service and food was superb starting with the hostess/manager moving us inside because it’s so hot in the city. Our server Elio was phenomenal. His storytelling of the food made us feel like we’re in Italy. The charcuterie board rivaled any we’ve had in Europe. The pastas were homemade and delicious. Cannot wait to come in the fall and try the white truffles. On a final note, the background Elio gave us on Bologna and the chef only made the truffles taste better. A true gem.

They guys who brought Bologna to New York City - The Piccolo Cafe gang, created their flagship restaurant. They had enough experience to use everything they've done right so far and learn from mistakes. The food is great (Gianluca cooks "come la mamma", yet with great deal of sophistication) - the special bolognese lasagna is quite unique and the meatballs can actually sing some arias. Great coffee and a lively service. Owners are present almost all the time, which, as we know, helps a great deal. Brunches are great.

Lucciola was an incredible experience overall. The food was great, the service was great, and the outdoor seating was lovely. We originally were drawn here by their lovely outdoor igloos but were blown away by their delicious food. The organic salmon was absolutely fantastic and their fresh pasta was outstanding. We will definitely dine here again.

It's a nice restaurant, I like it, and recommended for families, I and my wife were here and we like to be here again.

I visited this restaurant last Saturday with son and his girlfriend. I posted a review but it is now gone. Son and girlfriend ordered carbonara. Tasteless. I ordered ragu. It was a ball of glue. I cannot understand how our dinners could be so bad yet there are people who rate it high. Our thoughts were the restaurant must have sold. This truly was our worst dinner while visiting NYC.

We were greeted immediately at the door and taken to our seats. We had a reservation which is a good idea because it is a small place. Waiter was very attentive and very help full explaining dishes that we had questions about. One person has an allergy to onions so he found out what they could eat without any problem. They had an early bird drink time until 6 during the week not weekends. The food was great. Everyone loved their dishes.

Had a wonderfully decadent meal last night at Lucciola at 90th & Amsterdam. It was a real treat and honestly, a delightful surprise. We dined outside in one of their special bubbles on the sidewalk and had the two top in the individual bubble for the evening which was really nice given that most places have a time limit on tables these days. The service was excellent -- friendly and expert from start to finish. The atmosphere was about as good as it could be these days and extra kudos to the restaurant for their special attention to detail -- trying in every way to make the most of these difficult and uncertain times, e.g., the holiday lights inside the black, tented main outdoor space, the individual heaters over the tables, the spacing of the tables, the flowers on the tables, handing out space blankets and hand warmers for extra warmth, just to name a few. Most importantly, the food and drink and wine were just outstanding. The carefully curated menu is varied but also not overwhelming. It is clear that a lot of care and love went into every item offered not only for food but for wine and drink, as well. It is clear that this restaurant places great emphasis on authenticity, quality and creating the most optimal experience for their customers to truly appreciate the bounty of Bologna in every way. Alberto and team really know what they are doing and a meal here is not to be missed! Thank you for a wonderful evening and a much needed break from the craziness of these times.

Amazing food, such high quality ingredients and it shows. The restaurant itself is also stunning and the team is so friendly!

We celebrated a special occasion at Lucciola this past Saturday, April 5th at 6:00 p.m. under “Michael G”. I mention these details so the restaurant can validate the legitimacy of this review, as my G-Mail account is under a different name. Since we spent the better part of the day on the Upper West Side in NYC, we felt Lucciola would offer us not only convenience, but a great experience. Unfortunately, all things considered, the overall experience was far from enjoyable, so we will not be returning to Lucciola. There were several issues that brought us to that conclusion, but it began with the hefty price tag of over $700 for the 7-course tasting menu, which we felt was very disingenuous for several reasons. First, we were a party of two, and despite that, the restaurant, without notification, automatically tacked on a 20% gratuity to our bill. I know from my vast dining experience that restaurants will impose a 20% gratuity for larger groups (i.e., 6 or more) so a staff that provides high quality service earns a justifiable tip. However, to sneak that into the bill for a party of two and assume the service deserved that tip amount was very presumptuous and dishonest in my opinion. Secondly, we ordered wine by the glass. The hostess, Anelle, did not provide us a wine menu offering wine by the glass selections and cost, but knowing that most NYC restaurants charge $18 - $25 a glass, we had no reason to believe that Lucciola would be different. Well, it was different, and after seeing a cost of $35 per glass for a 2019 Chianti, my drink cost in excess of $100 infuriated me, as I felt I was once again duped by the folks at Lucciola. Lastly, Lucciola’s food portions paled in comparison to even some of the most renowned Michelin-rated restaurants I have dined at, and to say each portion of our tasting menu offered more than two bites exaggerates tremendously the reality. Finally, the extremely drab, primarily black décor did not enhance our dining experience and made us further question why the hefty price tag. I do not like writing reviews like this, but when one pays top dollar for a dining experience and one walks away duped and unsatisfied, I feel socializing our very disappointing experience for the benefit of other potential diners makes the most sense in this situation.

A friendly warm experience of Italy’s finest cuisines. The tastes and servings were spectacular. This is a place to go and enjoy a beautiful dinner amongst friends and take your time to enjoy a 7 course meal, you will be full and delighted at the end of your experience. We cannot wait to go back on our next trip to NYC, truly the finest place if you love Italian food.

Wonderful. Fresh exceptional food , great service by Elio, chef visited us twice and sent out some extras. Wished we lived in NYC to eat here regularly. The pizza appetizer with imported fresh burrata,shaved truffles on a chopped mushroom base was one of the best dishes we ever had. Their tortellini was expensive but well worth it. Extensive Italian wine list.quaint, intimate,unpretentious atmosphere.

I went to Lucciola for the first time 2 nights ago with my friend. We enjoyed the 7 courses “no menu” which our server Leo recommended. He took us on a journey throughout Italy! Spot is cozy and the food that chef Michele Casadei Massari cooks is top notch with great ingredients from Italy and from around the world! Highly recommended!

The Atmosphere in the restaurant is always like a party. People Laughs end Smiles all the time. I use to eat here. Amazing Chianti Classico and Pizza Margherita

Most Authentic Italian Food in New York, great ambiance, kind waiters, authentic contemporary food, wine list is great and not to expensive, they serve fresh sliced Truffle from Italy, love it!

Sophisticated, not inexpensive, UWS restaurant. Excellent cuisine, authentically typical Bolognese fare, first rate wines, and exceptional service by our Sicilian waiter Elio

Loved this restaurant! It's a nice, small restaurant so it was helpful to have a reservation. The food was incredibly delicious, and the service was also excellent. We tried 4 past dishes, and all 4 of us couldn't stop talking about how good they were. Servings were nicely sized portions so we were able to share some desserts as well. This is definitely on my list to return to!!

Outstanding fresh pasta and other northern Italian fare from the Bologna region. Excellent service and wonderful ambience.

Lucciola opened recently and is an excellent addition to the neighborhood. It is run by the same guys who own Piccolo Cafe, and is a slightly more upscale (and roomier) version, but maintains the same vibrant, warm and fun atmosphere. The decor is fun, imaginative and comfortable, with lots of light. The food is from the Emilia Romagna region and is delicious: I am from Italy and I can attest to its excellent quality. The Lasagna Bolognese and the chocolate mousse in particular are just spectacular, but all their appetizers and pasta dishes are really yummy. The service is really friendly and warm, and they go out of their way to make you feel at home and happy. As a side note, we recently used their catering service for a dinner at home for about 20 people, and we were very happy with the quality of the food and the service - and all for a very reasonable price. Gianluca, the chef, did an amazing job and all the logistics worked out perfectly - thanks to Alberto and Michele. I strongly recommend Lucciola, and we will be going back often!

A must!! We had an amazing dinner experience! Great authentic food… oh so good! And our server Elio , super phenomenal - on point recommendation and very knowledgeable. He made the whole experience so much more special - definitely a memorable evening. Highly recommend. We will be backing back.

Ate at Lucciola’s on New Year’s Eve, it was brilliant. We ate off the New Year’s Eve menu which had plenty of choice. Every course was delicious and the portions were huge. The service was amazing from the moment we walked into the restaurant. We had a fabulous New Year’s Eve at Lucciola, will definitely visit if we return to New York.

I have been to Bologna/ Ravenna Italy and I never thought I could have a restaurant experience that good in the states. But I did! The pasta tasting menu was perfect. Incredible with expert wine pairings by Annell our waitress! By the way her service was impeccable! Such a gorgeous young lady. Chef Massari has blended contrasting flavors and textures to create beautiful interest. Each course was an explosion of flavor and texture. My favorite was shaved mortadella on crispy thin bread topped with parm and 12 year old balsamic. I’m very critical…. I assure you. This place is a little gem!!!!

Our evening at Lucciola was absolutely amazing! Hands down, some of the best food I have had recently! Each bite was a delight. Perfectly balanced flavors, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. Highly recommended for food enthusiasts! The service was impeccable from start to finish. Our server, Filip, went above and beyond, accommodating every request with a smile. He ensured we had everything we needed and made the evening special. I can’t wait to come back again!

We were enticed by the proud mention of the chef on the outside window.. Our short ribs and penne all vodka were average to poor. The pizzas looked good, so perhaps they are worth a try.

Creative menu and warm and inviting wait staff make this a winner. Exceptionally well priced for what they deliver. Very decent wines by the bottle. If only there ventilation system was a little bit better they would have earned a higher rating. You really don’t want to smell like food when you walk out. I’m sure this is very easy fix for them and that they will be truly be at the top of their game.

Cute small intimate place. They big on wines, bottles everywhere. Casual dress. A few menu options with different # of courses, that they will explain. Staff super friendly. We went for the big one. Portion sizes are not huge (on this option) so dont worry about 9 full courses of entrees - like any tasting sample. Pastas were by far the best part. Only thing if we each ordered the tasting course, I think we should have each gotten our own dessert, not small ones to table share. Chef was there, wish he had come around. Food was high quality and interesting. Pasta's were fresh and great!

Enjoyed dinner with friends who we had not seen in years. Attentive service especially from one of the owners Alberto who treated us to a limoncello to send us off into the night. They do not own a fryer and so no fried food. The grilled calamari and octopus especially delicious as was the seafood risotto.

One of our best diner experiences ever. Excellent service, creative and absolutely delicious food paired with the best possible wines choices. Lucciola is without any doubt our new favourite restaurant and our first choice in New York.

Fascinating variety, the best quality and attention as a food lover, I recommend it successes, bon appetit.

Wow, what a gem of a find.Intimate and intriguing and interesting food.The atmosphere was wonderful. The service excellent and so knowledgeable on the food and wine they provide their their guests.A must for all lovers of Italian food. This is not your typical large portions Italian but small plates with each course being intense and scrumptious.Alexandra, thank you for making our experience exceptional.When we return to NewYork from the UK we would definitely revisit.You also went beyond kindness making sure we got back to our hotel. Which was very thoughtful. Caz and Paul

With the exception of a slightly limited menu this was a terrific find. The food was great, fairly priced, and the staff was terrific. The bar could be expanded, but I'm a tequila junkie. The wine list was good. Worth a try. The pasta's and specials were great and the atmosphere was good also.

Lucciola is on Amsterdam at 90th Street - quite a surprise to find a gem like this in this neighborhood. The restaurant is small - the main room is quite elegant and very attractive and holds about 20 people, and there is a small room on the side that could hold perhaps 8 people. We ate in the small room because it was more private. Service was impeccable. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly, but not obtrusive. The chef visited our table to give us a sample of one of his signature dishes, and other waitstaff were attentive, keeping our water glasses and wine glasses filled. Our waiter explained the menu. We were looking for a relatively light post-theater meal, so stayed away from the tasting menus, which looked too expensive and too much food. Two of our party had small salads, which were sort of hidden away at the bottom of the menu and were excellent. I had a sort of burrata kind of thing to start. I forget the name but it had Iberico ham, shaved truffles, etc, and was delicious. I only wish the waitress had told me that it was suitable for sharing with the whole table. It was enough for 4 people, but I ate it all. We all had pasta dishes as our main course, and they were all excellent. This is an expensive restaurant, but friendly, with excellent service and great food. Very Italian. Some reviews have complained that the portions were too small, but I found exactly the opposite to be true. They appear to be trying to be the best Italian restaurant in NYC. I don't know if that is true, but it is certainly one of the best restaurants on the UWS. Head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. This place is worth a special trip. We'll be back.

Great neighborhood restaurant with amazing Italian food. The staff aim to please and are very attentive. The truffle artichoke appetizer was very delicious as was the eggplant parmigiana. My entree the fish of the day was cooked to perfection. My house had the steak and it was one of the best ones he has ever had. The house dessert was out of this world. It was a great night out.