Luce Restaurant & Enoteca

I come here quite frequently, but only because it is conveniently located for my friend who can’t get around so easily. We have been going for quite some time (probably over a year now) and there has never been a menu change. Like ever. The salmon I got last time came uncooked. Not rare (or medium as I asked for) but raw. Not cool. Definitely need to switch up the menu, offer more of a variety and cater a bit more to their customers.

Grilled octopus came out burned, therefore the two stars. Rest of food tasted OK, but price is a bit high for the overall quality of the food. The service was good.

Not sure why this place has a 3.5 rating. The food was extraordinary — we had the Portobello Mushroom Salad and the Clams. They were both delicious. Then main course of Lamb Chops with Barolo Wine reduction sauce and the Picatta Mahi, wrapping it up with the best Tiramisu I’ve ever had. Too it off with great service and ambiance. 5 Stars all the way!

I am shocked by some of the negative reviews. I consider Luce one of the best of literally hundreds of Trattorias my wife and I have visited. The menu is well designed. Very good wine list. We had a terrific meal with excellent service. We will be back often.
Now go ahead and read the other reviews by the whiners and spoiled complainers.

I took my family to Luce restaurant after an afternoon show at Lincoln Center. The menu looked good and the location was convenient. Our reservation was ready and the place looked good. The waiter gave us the specials and I proceeded to order the appetizer special which was grilled octopus over mixed greens and the tuna with vegetables for the entrée. The appetizer came out and the octopus was not recognizable. Don’t know what I was eating but it was grilled and slimy. It was supposed to come with a lemon vinaigrette but instead came with something that tasted like Russian dressing. Now the entrée comes out, I have eaten tuna in many restaurants in my years and this was not tuna! It was more of a sole or some other kind of fish, but not tuna. It was full of bones which I had to keep pulling from my mouth and on top of the the slimy texture led me to believe whatever kind of fish it was it was far from fresh. When I confronted the waiter as to the actual species of the fish he sarcastically asked me when the last time I ate tuna was! Now one of my many hobbies is salt water fishing and one of the fish I catch is tuna, so don’t insult me and make look like a fool in front of my family. I have made tuna many ways and it never looked like that. To top off a terrible dinner I ordered an espresso and a lemon sorbet. Out come the espresso and no sorbet. It never came by the way. The bill was very pricy and the meal and the waiter were horrible!
Stay away!

The tomato had higher aspirations. Perhaps a life in a salad. Or as a star ingredient in pasta sauce. But there it was, smeared all over my husband’s menu. Yuck. We ordered anyway, and both were disappointed with our meals. The pasta here is not made fresh, but tasted like it was straight out of the box (San Giorgio?). The sauces were passable (even sans the aforementioned tomato), but just that. The best part was the service. Everyone here was professional and pleasant, making the visit an okay event. There are better Italian restaurants nearby.

I remember this place opening while ago. I remember looking at the menu and thinking they had a great wine selection and also it looks like a great place to have steak. So finally today I was debating on where to go cause of the nice weather, and I was in the area so I decided to go.
Well…severe cold points that were shocking to me. We are in NYC and your location is prime foot walking area and you server is a total pompice know it nothing.
I walk in to get ask a table for one, (I eat alone a lot, its hard to find someone that eats as well as I do) and server greeted me. A short dirty blonde russian/​polish looking man greeted me and asked me where I wanted to sit. They weren’t busy. it was few tables.
I said outside if possible. So we walk about 4 feet from the front door and he offers me the 1 out of many tables empty, the 1 table right by the front door, I asked if I could get anywhere for there (where other people were sitting) was ok. He said ok and I took at table.
Then I sat and I asked him for sparkling water, i asked what brand he had. He didn’t know. He gave me this long bs answer and was staring at another table behind me to see the label because he didn’t know. I asked for which brand twice. Finally he went over to the table. I saw the bottle, I knew that brand and said thats ok. I take it in sparkling.
Then I sit there and wait. read bit of my book and realize I have no menus. at all. So the busser finally comes with my sparkling water, and I say to him «I know this sounds weird, but can I have a menu» he busser smiled and said «he forgot» and I said «Yea» so the busser gave me menus. I asked for wine too.
So I was excited because they had a peidmont barberesco bottle for 88 dollars. So when the server came back he asked if I wanted something to drink. I said yea actually a bottle. He injected quickly
and said ‘A bottle. for your yourself sir?” and I said «yes… actually I was planning on having a meal. its that ok for you?» then he replied «4 glasses, for yourself, its ok sir» I was pissed. HE was painting me to be trash. So I quickly changed my mind and said never mind. I take the barbersco by the glass and order 2 apps. and steak.
In total I ordered 2 apps,
a burrata salad with tomatoes and roasted cold beets (amazing)
scallop and shrimp appetizer in a red sauce (the shellfish texture was perfect but the sauce had no flavor)
a flit mignon rare (they had to be remade cause it was way over cook), but the steak rare was perfect)
2 glasses of barberesco, 1 chardonnay, 2 scotches, 1 port, 1 dessert for myself. Over I spent 165 dollars on myself.
Throughout the entire meal I asked the server one question on a white wine he had for my apps, which is suggested a chardonnay from California but didn’t know the name (great a chardonnay from California, how informative) but he chose a decent one for me. but he didn’t have a scotch menu. So I asked him what he had and he asked me what I liked. a common question to ask a customer when you dont know what your serving.
over all for the location and the UWS availability to go someone else, I would go someone else. The food was great but the service was pretty much the worse I have ever experience after being judged, lead on, and faked. It was bad. Like really bad service. I tipped 20% too just cause I know they thought I was a bitch but seriously.
im not a tourist, nor a idiot. Dont treat me like one, and dont talk to me like I’m below you. I’m your customer. I dont owe you anything. I knew more than you at your own restaurant where you work :-/

Came here to eat before a Sunday evening movie. First thing I noticed is that our waiter was less than welcoming. Just handed my girlfriend and I menus silently and walked away. Didn’t even know his name until the bill came. We ordered a glass of wine and our entrees. Nothing to brag about. The pasta was scalding hot and the sauce had giant pieces of garlic. My girlfriend got a pasta dish with veggies and there were hardly any in it. Overall very underwhelming and won’t be going back.

You can make your own conclusion base on my experience. From the moment I walked in with a couple of people, the door hostess looked us up and down multiple time followed by a prolong delay. Finally, the hostess approached us, saying that the restaurant may not have space for us and she needed to check with management. Restaurant was more than half empty. Thanks to the floor management, we were seated at the table of our choosing.
The server was snotty and quick to judge us based on our appearance. We placed our orders for wine, appetizer and main course. The fact that the drinks were mixed up was a minor issue and a quick fix. However, our main course arrived without appetizer. When it was brought to our server’s attention, he said we never asked for the appetizer and continued talking back. Overall, service was a disappointment.
As for the food, my hat goes off to the chef for flavor, presentation was average.

Nothing special. This place is great for tourists who can’t get into Olive Garden. The food isn’t too expensive… great place for teens going to prom since it has the pretension of a fine Italian café with flavors that won’t offend the average mid-​western palates. I would recommend you fly over this place and try something a bit more authentic… this is Manhattan after all.

Nice location and cool décor and even better outside patio when the weather allows. But the food quality doesn’t quite stand up to the prices they charge. The food is simple and Italian influenced but is more reminiscent of diner quality than what you expect from this price level. UWS has not been known for great food options but luckily things have been changing and its time for Luce to change as well.

Uhm $ 17 to add a side of smoked salmon for brunch? Doesn’t make any sense; I think the waiter lied to us just to get us to order the salmon appetizer instead. Wasn’t the nicest man…

Before I review — Unilocal,pls correct LUCE’s hours, it is open on Saturdays. Hubby and I were just there a few hrs ago, Sat ³⁄₂₁. And we were told they are open 7 days a week.
We were not disappointed. I had the Fettucine with smoked salmon while Hubby had the Black Linguini with crab meat. Delicious ! And the price was reasonable considering it is right along Broadway near Lincoln Center. And the Loews Theater, Apple Store. I had more expensive pasta meals in other restaurants that did not taste as good as theirs. I also fell so in love with the tomato pesto that came with the bread. Delicious too! The service was very good, not slow like other reviewers said. And everyone was friendly. I have bookmarked this as one of my go to places whenever we are in the neighborhood.

This restaurant USED to be good. Now it’s not even decent. I gave it two stars because the waiter was kind and polite, and changed my dish when he saw I didn’t like my first choice. However, the quality of food has gone down a lot, and their menu lacks a tasty variety of choices. That’s my problem with most Italian restaurants. Anyway, the best part of my meal from last night were the two bottles of wine. Everything else looked and tasted like it came from a school cafeteria. Even the molten chocolate cake left much to be desired. This was a waste of $ 69 for me, and that was only my share. Unless the menu gets a drastic overhaul and they get an entirely new cooking staff, I wouldn’t eat here again.

Very nice Italian restaurant on the UWS, just north of the AMC Loews Lincoln Center movie theater… so if you are looking for some pasta and wine (or in my case, prosecco) after your movie, this is the place!
Great service, authentic and affordable food options, and a large wine list. I particularly enjoyed the Homemade Ravioli with Mushroom Sauce ($ 18).

So had brunch at Luce this past weekend for the first time. We were a very hungry and thirsty party of 10 with a baby. We had reservations for 11:15am because our party was participating in A Race for the Cure.
We did not arrive until 12 pm that day but we did call twice to notify them of our time change. Fortunately they were very accommodating (i guess because business was not busy at that time).
They had lovely seating outside which was all taken but fortunately we could see the street clearly from our table inside due to the lovely wide open doors from the restaurant.
The place wasn’t crowded but service was extremely slow due to lack of staff. It took us at least half an hour to place our order. We felt bad for the staff but we were starved and noticed that another table got serviced before us when we were clearly there prior to them.
The food was OK. The menu was very basic and they do not offer anything for children. Not even juice.
I would not go back due to the slow service and the food was just OK. We were there for brunch, perhaps dinner is better.
The bread and sauce that they serve as a comolimentary appetizer is great though!

My friend and I ducked in here for a fast meal after shopping at Zara and Century 21… and it was fast with solid food. She ordered a shrimp pasta dish. I stole one of her shrimp, and it was yummy. I ordered the pappardelle with duck ragu — hearty and hit the «comfort food» spot!
Service delivered exactly what we wanted — they were speedy and always kept my glass of water refilled. (No idea why I was so dehydrated that day.) I’d come back if I’m in the area and looking for something casual.

My boyfriend and I, live in the neighborhood and walked in to Luce for dinner on a Thursday evening. Décor was inviting with high ceilings and candle light tables with flowers. The host and server both were pleasant and friendly. Our server recommended a bottle of Chianti Villa Corti, great pick and perfect blend. The bread and read sauce was delicious, sweet and fresh, which is presented to tables as appetizer. I ordered the whole wheat spaghetti and my boyfriend ordered filet. We both were very pleased with dishes. Great upper west side neighborhood italian. Also,
perfect for night out or dinner before show at Lincoln center. We will be back. Maybe sit outside next time.

Came here last night on a busy Saturday night and had a great experience. Drinks were good and very strong (which is a plus for me). We got the mushroom app which was good.
I got the pasta with the duck ragu which I loved! The other members of my party really enjoyed their food too. Service was good. Only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because it was the first time I’ve been here.

All I have to say about this restaurant is wow!
I took my girlfriend here before we went to the Met Opera (we saw Carmen, Which was awesome I highly suggest it). This place was recommended to us by the person who gave us the opera tickets. When I first walked in the ambiance was beautiful and we were greeted by the host and i think he was the manager as well. However I was a little annoyed that we made reservations and there wasn’t a table for us immediately. So we decided to splurge and get a bottle of reisling at the bar and we were waiting for about 5−10minutes which was not so bad especially after having a glass of wine. The host was very accommodating and gave us a great table.
Once we sat down we looked over the menu which had amazing options. We decided to order the entrees right away because we were worried about making the show so we got the chicken sopreze and the pene with fresh mozarella and basil. After we ordered we spoke with the waiter because we really wanted to get the fresh mozzarella and red pepper as an appetizer but wanted to make sure we would make our show. He assured us that we would have more than enough time to make the show so we ordered it and it was really good but small portions. The appetizer and food came out very quickly and was delicious. I couldn’t believe how falvorful the chicken sopreze was. After the entrees we split the ricotta cheesecake which was really good and had a strawberry syrup on one side and an apricot syrup on the other.
Pros:
Great food
Affordable Italian In a really nice ambiance
Very nice and attentive wait staff
Food came out very quickly
Cons:
Made a reservation and they made us wait
All In all I give this restaurant 5 stars and suggest anyone who is going to the Met Opera to go here before their show. Just make sure to make reservations.