Lucky’s Puccias and Pizzeria

This place is a staple. Their puccias are excellent.

INTELLIGENCE ALERT:
Simply look at the number of ratings and the 4.5 stars and don’t spend valuable time reading others’ opinions when you can go and experience an authentic Italian tastegasm. Alert over.
Oooooorrrrrrrrr…read away because there are some really cool reviews.
I’m really late getting to this review, but many others have picked up my slack. Wife and I along with another couple decided to do Austin for a weekend. We got tickets for a food tour which was tons of fun. All but one stop had great food, but Lucky’s was our hands-​down favorite. So much so, we decided to go back the same night and have a full dinner. We had an appetizer, a couple different puccias, a pizza, two desserts and some wine. The absolute best part of the dinner was Lucky spending some time with us and seeing the passion and pride he has for supplying his diners with quality dishes skillfully crafted with fresh ingredients.
It isn’t fancy, it isn’t expensive and it isn’t going to blow foodies’ minds. Lucky’s Puccias and Pizzeria is what quality fresh ingredients taste like when constructed according to time-​tested recipes.
Just go and enjoy yourself. Make a point to talk to Lucky if possible. Just don’t ask him for pepperoni. ;o)

What a great find! This was my first time to Lucky’s and it deifntiely won’t be my last. Authentic (not Americanized) Italian sandwiches (puccias) and pizzas. To top it off, it’s Italian owner-​operated.
This isn’t your typical pasta and pizza place. As an example: the porketta is quite good — and something you can’t get just anywhere in Austin.
Oh, and it’s not going to break the bank for lunch.

In my 3 year mission to try all the food places recommended on Unilocal and Reddit for ATX i first went to Lucky Puccia when it was a trailer across from Whole Foods. The hot pastrami sandwich, in my opinion, was the best in town, and i think i have tried them all. More than once. I went to have another fix and the trailer was gone. Then i found their bricks and mortar on 5^th. Just had the small hot pastrami pizza and it lived up to the sandwich quality. The pizza dough is the same recipe as the sandwich dough i was just told. They do have individual pizza priced 7.50 to 9.50. Beer and wine but no beer on tap (almost gave a star off for that). Overall a do over. They have managed to keep their quality in the transition.

3^rd time customer– I’m starting a tradition of coming here every time I have a property closing at the title company next door.
There’s a lot to like — but I love the fact they give you a big glass bottle of water with your order. It’s an order-​at-​the-​counter joint and it would be a pain in the ass to have to get up every time you want a refill.
Why don’t more places do it this way?

been a fan and follower of Mr. Lucky since the very beginnings, when he was at the trailer on Bowie and 5^th. the puccias have always been awesome. then he opened up the restaurant, and started to make pizza. the only reason i don’t get the puccias any longer is that his Napoletana pizza is amazing.
in addition to an awesome product, Mr. Lucky is always fun to see, and have a quick word with.

Great authentic Italian food! Lucky (the owner) is awesome, he’s from Italy & mixes in Italian when he talks with you. It’s was a total flash back to our time in Italy! If you’ve been to Italy, come. If you haven’t, come & you’ll get a feel for what many places are like in Italy.
Btw if you get a puccia, get the lucky, it’s excellent & as authentic as it gets!

It’s the closest type of pizza I am use to. Just perfect! Simple ingredients give always the best tastes.
I can’t wait to come again.

Lucky the owner looks like the restaurateur version of Fred Armisen. He’s exuberant, and incredibly passionate about the food of his homeland! Best of all, his unique Puccia is out of this world. The «Lucky» which is a Puccia bread sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, and tomato is one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Absolutely incredible! The bread is fresh backed to every order, and you absolutely must give it a try.

Tried their classic puccia with prosciutto mozarella and arugula. Very tasty! Will be coming back to taste other items in their menu, for sure.

This place is delicious! The pizzas are all good. Margherita pizza is perfect! We also like the Capricciosa, the Arugula, and the Vegetarian pizzas! The wood fired oven makes the best crust! The Puccias are just delicious sandwiches with their yummy wood fired pizza dough for bread. Amazing. The owner is super friendly and always goes out of his way to make sure you are satisfied. He even brought raw pizza dough for our kids to play with. He told the kids to make shapes with the pizza dough and then he baked them and brought them back to our table for them to eat. A real find.

A real Italian pizza (and puccia)!
Love the place, love the people and, above all, love their food :)

Great sandwiches and fast service! The sandwiches are huge and very filling. If you not too hungry think about sharing one. If you haven’t been here I would highly recommend this place!

Now my most favorite meal is pizza. And I have had a few good pies here in Austin and Lucky’s Puccia is definitely in my top three. I built my own with salami, mozzarella, fontina, basil, and red bell peppers. It was great but my most favorite part was that it was baked in a wood fire oven. I also tried their Lucky #3 Puccia which I would recommend if your in the mood for a sandwich. Their salads are also pretty tasty. The service is awesome, they make you feel at home as soon as you walk in the door. So please the next time that you have a hankering for pizza or sandwiches, give Lucky Puccias a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Good food and an exceptionally friendly owner make this place what it is. Yes pizza and sandwiches are not the hardest things to make but loving to serve people that otherwise are judging you’re every move isn’t easy. Plus if you go about every week making fresh pizza dough and bread at home I commend you. Otherwise this place has some very fresh and simple well developed textures and flavors. Nothing out of the ordinary I’d just say it’s made rite. I shared a rustica salad w/​prosciutto, a small # 3 lucky puccia sandwich and a regular size custom pizza with my wife. I will definitely be back, all our food was delicious. We mixed mozzarella and fontina cheese on the pizza to give it an extra gooey touch I would highly recommend trying this.

I thought I knew what a «Puccia» was… I apparently was mistaken. Puccias are tasty folded layers of meat in a warm shell… oh, wait. I DO know what a Puccia is. I just like saying that word «Puccia». It’s like an Italian pet name for what crass Americans might refer to as Panty Hamster, or Bikini Bizkit, or Crotch Waffle, or Sausage Wallet. Who wants to eat THOSE? I want to eat a Puccia… the Italians just have a way with words.
Anyway, this was my second, er, experience with Puccias. He had catered a women’s happy hour for me to rave reviews, but last nite was the first time I’d sat down and dined in, so to speak. After the last week of Christmas events and overindulging I wanted something a little light so I got the Contadina Puccia, turkey with olive tapenade, and a delicious side salad to start. Hubby loved his hot pastrami Puccia too (he always does…). But, what I loved most about Lucky’s was Lucky (is that his name?). Clearly authentically Italian, if you get to spend five minutes with him talking about his childhood in Italy, harvesting olives, it will fuel your Under the Tuscan Sun fantasies. Also, he is so passionate about his food and business, he was genuinely excited to bring us out «the besta tiramisu youa will ever tastea» and have us identify the secret ingredient (hint: it’s almond extract). And, he was right. It was the best for me as I’m not a huge coffee fan and this was more amarettoish than coffeeish.
I am seriously loving this little business complex that includes Sushi Zushi, Lucky’s, Hiatus spa and of course my fave, MasVino. Plenty of free parking, easy access to Slopac, friendly businesses, good eats and conveniently located to Mean Eyed Cat and Donn’s Depot if you just feel the need to scoot. I will definitely be back for more Puccia… it’s an addiction I have.

I love love looove this place. If you’re looking for something that’s reminiscent of a real Italian meal — and have given up hope after a disappointing search of Austin’s Italian food desert — then you’ll find solace here. They have two secret weapons: One is their amazing wood-​fired oven, which cooks up some of the most delicious bread you’ll ever have. The other is Lucky, the eponymous owner of this joint, who has a stash of simple yet brilliant recipes that flawlessly deliver authentic Italian cuisine to your plate. These are dishes I crave on a regular basis.
The menu is pretty straightforward here. It’s mainly a mix of puccias (their hearty sandwiches) and pizza, with a few appetizers and desserts. I’ve only had the puccias, because these are truly special sandwiches. Take a big circular loaf of bread from their oven, cut it in half, and stuff it with a wonderful mix of meat, veggies, and cheese. Depending on what you order, you’ll find regular meats like ham and turkey, or more deluxe /​cured items like prosciutto, pastrami and sliced pork loin. The veggies are always fresh and their high-​quality cheese is always perfectly melted alongside. Be smart and grab a puccia that has the chipotle aioli, because this is one awesome sauce. That’s what an Italian place in Texas will get you. If I had to recommend one item, it’s the Classica: Ham, fontina cheese, mixed greens, chipotle aioli, etc. I could eat it every day.
But honestly, it’s the bread that’s the starring attraction here. Before the first bite, what sucks you in from the moment it’s handed to you is the smell. It’s that fresh-​off-​the-​hearth aroma, like the bread is still baking in front of you. It builds the excitement so that you’re dying to eat this thing once you unwrap it. The bread is warm and crisp on the outside, sometimes a little charred, but on the inside it’s soft, rich, and doughy. Like, the most savory dough you’ve ever had. I used to tear out the inside of a good bagel and eat that first; I could do it here too. I swear by this bread, and it’s the main reason I keep coming back here.
That, and the charm of this place. It’s been harder since the truck closed and they strictly became a brick-​and-​mortar, but I’ll still make the trek over to West 5^th when possible. The restaurant itself is quaint; the interior is bright and appealing. Fittingly, there’s a Renaissance-​style map of Italy on the wall. And then there’s Lucky himself: A kind, friendly guy, who always dons a cap that gives him this old-​school look. You’ll always get a smile and a note of appreciation from him too. That’s the best part — buying good food from a likable person who takes pride in his business. Thank god it’s Italian food.

Desert first — this fresh in house made pot de crème Salted Caramel is made with love ! They have every kind of sand which. Bread us fresh& hot — My favorite is vegetarian. Salad I love is Rustica mixed greens, peppers, mushrooms. He also has truffle fries. A large extensive list of wines and beers

GOD BLESS THE ITALIANS AND THEIR INNOVATIVENESS.
Straight off, lemme tell you about my love for carbs. It extends to the moon and the stars, and beyond to all other planets. This place has my heart, solely for their divine carbs. Their puccias are basically sandwiches that consist of pizza dough as bread. PIZZA dough. Can you imagine? Perfectly crispy on the outside, and delightfully chewy on the inside. You can almost feel the gluten just springing back when you chew. Okay, enough about the carbs.
I’ve had their Lucky’s Puccia and the Porketta puccia. For me, the Lucky’s is my favorite and a definite winner winner prosciutto dinner. It’s basically fresh mozzarella, arugula, and prosciutto encased in magical pizza dough – basically pizza, but better. The freshness of the ingredients just pair so well with the freshly made puccia dough (it’s made after you order!). The porketta is pretty good too, but it’s just not as good as the Lucky’s.
Like most of the reviews say, this place is a bit on the pricier side. The Lucky’s is around $ 10, and depending on how much you like to eat, it can be just enough to fill you or not enough. I’d definitely say you’re paying for quality, not quantity. Also, the service is really great here. I think the guy at the cashier is usually the owner? He’s really knowledgeable and friendly, and gives you pretty good suggestions, if you ask for them.
Make sure to go on Thursday’s for their $ 5 specials! It only applies for 3 of their puccias, but worth it for the puccia bread. Also, it’s located on 5^th, which is a one-​way street (heading east), so good luck finding parking!

Pros
— Staff and owner are very nice.
— Good location.
— The flavor created by the wood-​fired oven is very very good.
— Both the pizza and puccias have good crust thickness and consistency, and the ingredients seem fresh + high-​quality.
Cons
— A tad pricey, but I realize this pays for the rent (much more comfortable inside the restaurant than outside a trailer!) and the oven. It’s acceptable.
— Can get pretty loud during lunch rush.
My personal recommendation is Capricciosa pizza — the flavor within the mouth is very «Italian,» without being greasy or heavy. Also, sometimes Lucky will make tiramisu which is very, very delicious (this is sometimes notified on Facebook).

I work near this area and there’s very limited eating options that’s walking distance so it’s nice to have this place around. The puccias are huge. The ingredients feel extra fresh like they go out in some hidden garden and pluck them out just for you. I generally go with the vegetarian options so Rustica, Vegeariana or Primavera are usually on my rotation list. My only gripe is that the bread feels too dry sometimes and occasionally comes charred but that has generally been the exception and not the rule.
Lately, I’ve been made aware of the mini puccias which is ½ the size with ½ the price! That and a drink and chips make for a pretty affordable lunch. The pizza’s are really good albeit pretty pricey for what feels like a personal sized pizza. Have had no issues with the service and they have a small little patio outside to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.
They also carry wine which I haven’t tried (I don’t really get to try this stuff during my lunch breaks lol) and Pellegrino soda which is an Italian brand of mineral water with interesting fruit flavors. I’ve been meaning to try the Nutella puccias but haven’t yet had the chance to do us. Well, that leaves something to write about next time…

Only 75 reviews! Not sure if they’re new or what, but MAN are the reviews on point — this place ROCKS.
We got the Lucky’s Puccia after being greeted by the server, and very soon after our food was out, before we were even able to get a drink from the tinybar nearby. I love superfast service. But seriously, the sandwich had an amazing flavor, somehow in a SIMPLE way. I honestly am not sure how to describe it, it’s not some crazy savory dish, it’s just simple, fresh vegetables with a delicious Chipotle aioili sauce and some awesome prosciutto with toasted bread that’s soft on inside but toasty on outside from the wood-​fired oven inside the tiny food truck.
So simple but so perfect, probably going back in a couple hours today…

I had an opportunity to meet up with a couple of GFs here last week for lunch. While one of them actually selected the place, I was a bit ho hum about the selection as I thought to myself that this would be one of those empty carb-​laden pizza lunches that would leave me filled with regret and sleepiness for my food choices. WOW — was I way off.
Lucky’s Puccias & Pizzeria is not just a pizza joint. They make Puccias, which are sandwiches with, wait for it… wood fired flat bread made from pizza dough. Huh? What? B-​R-​I-​L-​L-​I-​A-​N-​T! Ta Da!
I quickly scanned the Unilocal reviews of some of my peeps and saw that Amy D had recommended the Lucky’s Puccia. This seemed to be the most popular of the puccias with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, arugula, and a spicy Chipotle aioli artfully sandwiched between two pieces of that delicious flat bread. $ 9 will get you a sandwich enough for two, but cut that price in half and add a quarter, and $ 4.75 will get you a half sandwich on a puccia baked just for that size. I accidentally ordered the whole one, while one of my dining companions ordered the half. It was all good — because I got to take that other half (eh ¼) piece home for later goodness.
In addition to the puccias, we ordered the Vegetariana appetizer which came with a selection of cheeses (we got Parmesan, brie, feta and fresh Mozzarella), olives (including my fav — Castelvetrano olives), and grilled veggies (zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, Portobello mushrooms, and balsamic caramelized onions). It was served up with wood fired toasted triangles of that delicious Puccia bread. We finished every morsel on that plate.
In addition to the Puccia menu, they offer a selection of pizzas, salads, and desserts with the opportunity to build your own pizza or puccia. They have a charcuterie/​cheese/​olive plate served with the delicious puccia bread on the appetizer menu called the Di Terra. They also offer daily specials. You can choose from a small selection of affordable wine or beer, and other bottled beverages to wet your whistle.
As for me, I will never judge a place with «pizza» in the name again. I might just miss out on some wood fired magic.
Fast forward to the end of the same week: I kept thinking about that sandwich and the bread so much, that Friday, after a day spa visit (with my mom) a few doors down at Hiatus, we walked on over to get a half Lucky’s Puccia and an order of the Puccia bread to go. The Puccia bread is just $ 3 for an order which is the size of a Lucky’s Pizza, made to order then cut into triangles. The bread was to be served on the 4^th with Hummus, and most of it made it there, although a couple of those warm delicious pieces magically disappeared into our mouths on the drive home.
Moral of this story: You may never want pita again when you can get lucky with some warm Lucky’s Puccia.

Sometimes you find you’re at your wife’s new hair salon on W. 5^th, watching the magic happen, when a friend chimes in on your checkin.
«Hey, you’re right next to Lucky’s Puccias!» Why, yes, Mihir. I am!
Ever since Jenny L.‘s 2013 ode to Lucky’s original downtown food truck, set to Blondie’s «One Way or Another» (Who can forget: «…I’m gonna puccia puccia puccia puccia»), I’d always wanted to try Lucky’s sandwiches. But the stars never aligned. Fast forward to last Friday late afternoon, and I found I was 50 steps away from the newish brick-​and-​mortar during Happy Hour.
The beauty of happy hour is that they do mini slider-​sized versions of the puccia sandwiches, and single serving pizzas. So, for twenty bucks and some change, we got to sample a Margherita Pizza, a Lucky’s puccia (prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, and arugula), a Vegetariana puccia (with fontina cheese and avocado, but highlighted by that artichoke pesto), and a half-​price glass of house chianti. The sandwiches were what I expected them to be. Couldn’t think of a way to improve either one. The pizza reminded me of one of my favorite local pies (that’s Baris’ in Pflugerville, not those over-​hyped places in town).
Lucky knows his doughs.
But the surprise of the evening was, of all things, the salad. My wife’s stylist recommended «that salad with the caramelized mushrooms». I’m sure she meant caramelized onion, and roasted portabello and red pepper. I don’t know what’s in that dressing exactly (it was a classic balsamic vinaigrette), but that salad was the perfect balance of sweet and bright. It puts the pricier salads (even adding a buck for sliced avocado) at other places to shame.
The register staff was friendly, and, well, easy to look at. But, Lucky only said bye to us on our way out. I was severely disappointed. I’ll be back every six weeks to accompany my wife to her hair appointment. Maybe if, like many other reviewers mention, we get more attention from Lucky himself, I’ll raise my rating. But for now, I’ll keep it at:
4.9 stars. ;) Well done, Mr, Lucky.

Please forgive me, Lucky’s, for taking so long to update you!
I tried you again and you were the perfection I’ve always known. All of the kinks have been worked out and our experience and puccia were absolutely spot on.
Had my usual Primavera. Crusty soft pizza bread, creamy salty mozzarella, spicy arugula, pungent olive oil, lots of pepper, and that famous hot Lucky’s aioli. It’s also huge! You can easily share a puccia or make a lunch and light dinner of one.
It’s always happily busy when we come, but never completely slammed. Try this place next time Home Slice has a two hour wait. Or actually just come any time – it’s better than Home Slice anyway.

WTF, mate? Toasted almonds on my pizza? Get the fugoutta here. (repeat in horrible 70’s mob accent) The Capricciosa was a fine piece of work Lucky. Didn’t realize what that little bit of crunch could do a pizza but it was definitely something I crave now. Now that my initial reaction has been recorded, I’ll get to the review.
I’ve been a patron of Lucky’s for about 4 years now and have not been disappointed ever. His service is stellar and he makes you feel like he’s inviting you to his home. Good home cooked food with family friendly service. His food always makes me want more. That BREAD THOUGH. So good.
I’ve had the above pizza and the Margerhita. Once again, the burn on the crust from the brick oven solidifies the pizza. Crunchy, thin, and holds the fresh ingredients like an edible plate should. The sandwiches hold the same quality as he’s always maintained so try everything.
Best piece of advice, Lucky does some insane happy hours so definitely try it out if you can get into downtown at the right times.

I love the new Lucky’s brick and mortar location (right across the street from Don’s Depot) — on a Friday night I can see myself grabbing a couple of cocktails at the Mean Eyed Cat (HH) & then grabbing a couple pizzas after at Lucky’s to finish the night.
I’ve been a little obsessed with trying every prosciutto and arugula pizza in Austin and Lucky’s did not disappoint. Perfect thin slices of prosciutto (perfectly salty) and fresh arugula on their wonderful (homemade crust). Their salads are freshly made with my favorite cheese — mozzarella.
I’ve heard raving reviews about their Puccias and after seeing them abundantly passed out during lunch time I could see why they were so popular — they look so yummy!
You won’t have to worry about finding a place to park — there is ample parking in the garage behind Lucky’s and on the street in front the building.

There was ample free parking along the store front, as well as the parking garage behind which I liked right away. That in itself is a rarity for Austin joints.
The inside is small with about 15 or less tables, and you order at the counter. They will give you a number and then bring your food once it’s ready. We started with the Diterra appetizer which the menu said was a selection of cold cuts, cheeses, olives, and bread. Both my grandma and I love olives so we were excited but then saw none once the plate came. I guess they use whatever they have that day because ours had more meats than anything, a few grape tomatoes, 4 teeny tiny balls of mozzarella, shaved cucumber, and pieces of thinly sliced mushrooms.
It was good, I just wish it had more cheeses and olives instead of mushrooms and vegetables. We also got two pizzas and that along with the appetizer was more than enough food for the three of us to share.
The first pizza was a classic Margherita and very good, but the second by far was the favorite all around and that was the Diavola which had mozzarella, tomato, and spicy salami. Yum! It’s not overly spicy, more of a subtle spice about the heat level of a pinch of red pepper flakes.
I noticed they had my favorite dessert ever, tiramisu, but I was way too full by the end of the meal to order it. Their pizzas are all made in a brick oven, and there is just something about a brick oven pizza that can’t be beat. I would love to come back and try the salads and sandwiches (and that tiramisu). They have wine and beer here as well as sodas. They even have a pizza with French fries on top! There is something for everyone here

I dined in for dinner during their soft opening and returned the following week when lunch service kicked off.
First things first Lucky is a very passionate hard working guy. I watched him in the kitchen, helping out his team and greeting customers. He does a wonderful job preparing Italian cuisine while sourcing many ingredients locally. Also many of the ingredients are organic.
The restaurant added salads, antipasti, pizzas and desserts to the menu. I tried a slice of three different pizzas, Lucky’s signature puccia, a few bites of antipasti and for lunch a salad. I must say all were good but the puccia takes the cake! Their dense chewy bread makes for the ultimate sandwich. Lucky’s puccia has prosciutto, fresh tomato, delicious mozzarella, fresh arugula and a hint of heat from the chipotle aioli. What I really love is you can order a half size of any sandwich and their salads are very healthy.
The pizzas I tried were the capricciosa, napoletana and the crudo & arugula. The capricossa with tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, spicy salami, mushroom, artichokes, olives was my favorite. I love the flavor combination. The napoletana was also very good and flavorful with tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, capers and orgeano. The crudo & arugula was a nice mix of prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and fresh arugula. The pizza crust is nice and crispy on the outside and softer at the center. They serve Italian wines and and bottled beer which of course goes great with the pizzas.
They have two salads on the menu and offer a build your own option. I just got done working out and wanted a nice light lunch. I ordered the rustica salad. This gorgeous salad has fresh mixed greens, creamy mozzarella, mushrooms, marinated red peppers and red onion. The salads are not monstrous and make for a perfect light lunch or pair it with a puccia for a heartier meal.
Their is ample parking in the parking garage behind the restaurant. Lucky’s Puccia is conveniently in the same complex as my workout studio so you can bet I will not be a stranger.
Tips:
Grab bar seating facing the custom made oven if you can.
The small patio is dog friendly.