trattoria lucca

i sampled a tuna crudo with orange, capers, and pickled garlic, which was a right tasty and unexpected marriage of flavor, and a huge portion, though the novelty of the unreasonably large amount pickled garlic wore off as indigestion kicked in.

can't say enough good things. my wife and i went here on a saturday night. our server was adam and he was great. very nice and helpful. he took the time to go over each menu item and make recommendations based on what we told him we like. the food was amazing, i don't think you could go wrong with anything on the menu. the noise issue others have mentioned is valid. it is a very cute and cozy little place but quiet it is not. the db reader on my iphone said between 85-90 dbs during dinner (the equievilant of a factory floor). the other issue is the cost. yes the food is amazing but it is pricey. we had a medium appetizer, each had an entree and split a dessert. we spent $100. we did not order alcohol. so...if $100+ on dinner is not a problem for you, or if you're looking for something special i would highly recommend lucca. we loved it and will be back.

have tried to find a place to compare with the family style meal and so far have been unsuccessful. luca is the beat place to eat in charleston hands down.

best restaurant in charleston. go on monday which is family night

multa benne!. this chef & staff can cook italian - trust me. antipasta selection is delightful - don't pass up the cauliflower puree with poached egg - wow! housemade pastas and sauces are right on the money. great little trattoria - will always go there on my returns to charleston.

great food, awful service, really rude staff. the food is good, but i won't be back.

food was good but the noise level was terrible. it ranged from 92db to 100db all evening.

good food terrible service. we tried to go on a friday and made a reservation and they refused to honor our reservation and told us to sit at the bar even though we specifically requested a table. on top of that they were rude.


-----30 jul, 2011-----

good food terrible service. ive been before on a weekday and it was great but we tried to go on a friday and made a reservation and they refused to honor our reservation and told us to sit at the bar even though we specifically requested a table. on top of that they were rude.

best in show. after three visits, lucca isnow confirmed as our most favorite in charleston, which is saying a lot in this restaurant-crazy town. lovingly prepared food that will bring tears of joy to your eyes, attentive service, generally with chef vedrinski in visible attendance, and a lively warm atmosphere in a rapidly revitalizing part of the peninsula. what's not to like? the family night dinner is over the top: successive bowls and platters of the most succulent menu items, and you don't have to decide----just enjoy. the place is habit forming.

fantastic food, loud, lively

my favorite charleston restaurant. hands down the very best food in charleston, conceived and prepared with passion and care. yes, the place is busy-- because it's great! i love "family style" night (currently monday, i believe): you just sit down and they start bringing delicious surprises. we've never had to join people we didn't know, always had our own table. we go early to avoid the crush. wednesday night seems to be the quietest. this is a restaurant worthy of new york or the little neighborhoods of italy and france.

one of the best places to eat in town. cant go wrong.

nice surprise. i've been a long time fan of ai di la in west ashley and wild olive is my other favorite italian joint in town. however, a friend of mine has been raving for years about lucca and i finally stiff armed ai and the olive and checked out lucca. i was not disappointed. the food was great. i especially enjoyed the way you can mix and match cheese, meats and veggies for your apps and the entrees were awesome. the veal was a big hit with our dinner party. service was great and the wine selections were very enjoyable. the staff really seemed to know their italian and their wine list. i'd recommend a reservation though. even with our reservation, we had to wait for some time for the table. lucca is small too so expect a cozier environment for your dining experience.

best rest in charleston. by far one of the best italian restaurants i have eaten at. the veal, pork, wilted spinach salad and cheese plater are all to-die-for!!! yes it is noisy and off the beaten path...but in my opinion it adds to the appeal. it's packed even in a sometimes sketchy location because its so good! it's loud because it's always packed! also love their new wine bar enoteca too!

came here out of town for a wedding rehearsal dinner and the food was phenomenal. outstanding flavors and unique, but unfussy dishes. this is truly traditional, fresh italian food done well. one warning: the noise; when the restaurant is full it's very hard to hear your dining companions.