Lucia

Most of the food was tasty, but at this price point, the experience was quite underwhelming. Our main frustration was how long the meal took. I typically don't mind slower paced meals, but this was ridiculous. We sat down at 8:30 and didn’t leave until around 11:15 (mind you, the restaurant "closes" at 10). Our waitress would disappear for easily 30-40 minutes between courses and showed no urgency throughout the entire meal. The restaurant automatically charges a 20% gratuity and I got the impression that our waitress did not feel the need to impress us due to already having a tip secured. On the upside, portions were rather large and my party ended up having plenty of leftovers for the next day.

Service was really amazing and it’s obvious that the people who work there are super knowledgeable about the food. I definitely think the pasta we had was the standout dish. The lamb we had I found to be maybe a little too heavy, but that was more so a mistake on our part for the choice. I think it’s worth the visit to try it out!

We chose Lucia for my husband’s birthday dinner, but the overall experience didn’t meet expectations. We sat down at 6:30 PM and waited almost an hour for the courses to come out; even the bread took nearly an hour. I now understand why guests are asked to order everything at once. The salad felt thrown together without much care, and while most dishes tasted fine, they weren’t memorable. The pork cheek in the pasta was overcooked, losing all the richness it should have had, though the mushrooms were prepared very well. Surprisingly, the bread was the best dish of the night. By the time we finished, we were so tired from the long wait that we skipped dessert and left the restaurant at 8:36 PM. With the price point and reputation, we expected a much better experience.

I recently tried all the food at Lucia, and while the experience was good overall, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. The service was excellent—the staff were attentive, professional, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The atmosphere was also very nice, creating a comfortable dining setting. The food itself was great, but not quite at the level I expected given how much this place is talked about. The quality and taste could use a bit of improvement to truly match the reputation Lucia has. That said, it’s still a wonderful restaurant that I would definitely come back to. With just a few refinements to the menu and flavor profiles, it could easily be a five-star spot.

After months of trying to secure a reservation at Lucia—about 6 to 8 months, to be exact—we finally dined here, thanks to the Resy platform. The difficulty in booking only heightened our anticipation, as it speaks to the restaurant’s popularity and allure. As Mexican from rural South Georgia with a love for bold, spicy flavors, I’ll admit my palate could be less refined, but my extensive travels chasing Michelin-starred and Michelin-guide restaurants (recent stops include La Colombe in South Africa, Pujol in Mexico City, and Zuma in Qatar) give me some perspective to share. The experience started strong with an incredibly friendly and attentive staff. Our server, John Michael, was a highlight, offering thoughtful suggestions and warm service. The bread and butter starter was a standout—absolutely delicious—but I was surprised it comes at a cost. In a restaurant of this caliber, bread service feels like it should be complimentary. The green salad was underwhelming, just a simple spring mix with lemon juice, lacking complexity. My stuffed cappelletti, which I’d been excited about, was disappointingly bland and only had a few bites. My partner, who is gluten-free, ordered the risotto and found it equally unimpressive. The golden tilefish was a bright spot, cooked beautifully, but the accompanying trimmings were so salty for my taste. Overall, the meal didn’t live up to the hype or the effort it took to secure a table. The total $183 for two, excluding drinks. While the service and ambiance were great, the food fell short of the expectations set by Lucia’s reputation and elusiveness.