Located in the heart of Montreal's charming Little Italy district, the Restaurant Lucca serves market-fresh Italian cuisine. Lucca specializes in a wide range of fine gourmet dishes like fresh pasta (a popular choice: seafood linguine), seafood, risotto, veal chops, filet mignon and grilled fish. Lucca details its menu on a chalkboard since the dishes change according to market availability.
Reviews describe Lucca as an authentic upscale Italian spot in Little Italy where guests celebrate fresh pasta, seafood and meat dishes, a warm, convivial atmosphere, and service that many find attentive and knowledgeable. Standout selections often mentioned include seafood linguine, octopus, lamb chops, pappardelle, and the house bread, with tiramisu and pistachio ice cream noted for dessert and a well curated wine list praised for pairing with the menu. The setting is described as cozy and refined, sometimes bustling or tightly spaced, with reservations suggested to avoid delays. While the overall impression is highly favorable and Lucca is regarded among the citys best Italian restaurants, a few reviews point to occasional inconsistencies in service or value, such as billing for larger portions without clear consent or meals that are lukewarm. Taken together, the reviews portray Lucca as a top choice for authentic Italian cuisine in Montreal, delivering high quality flavors, a strong wine program, and a welcoming atmosphere that invites repeat visits.
I'm not very used to dining at upscale restaurants here in Montreal yet, but I would confidently recommend this one. It feels like an authentic Italian kitchen, with a well-crafted menu & service that matches the experience.
I ordered the pasta with ragù - excellent. The fried calamari was also very good.
Situated in Little Italy, Lucca is an authentic upscale Italian restaurant. It's busy, cozy, & tightly packed; even with a reservation, there was a 10 minutes short wait. The menu lives on a chalkboard, the tables are closely staged, & the small bar stands nicely at the back of the restaurant. The server took the time to answer any questions we had from the menu.
We ordered the off-board special Antipasti. The octopus came tender, paired with fresh fennel, onion, bell pepper & cucumber, grounded by a grainy chickpea purée. Better still were the baked figs stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon: tenderly sweet, salty & memorably unique (I loved it!).
For mains, the meat pasta of the week (pasta ragu della settimana) delivered ribbons of fresh fettuccine tangled with boar (!), spinach, & mushrooms in a hopefully homemade tomato sauce. The seafood linguine went all in on sea-saltiness, with a generous amount of mussels, clams, shrimps & scallops (& capers & pepper). Very savory!
Taste-wise, Lucca would be ranked on my top restaurants in Montreal :) (I might be a little biased tho cuz Italian food is my fave).
I chose this restaurant on December 20th 2025 for my birthday celebration after hearing many positive things about it as an authentic Italian spot. We were seated at table #43. Overall, the general atmosphere was pleasant & the food itself was excellent.
Unfortunately, the experience was soured at the end when we received the bill. We were charged for the large linguini portion, even though the waiter never asked which portion size we wanted. What made this particularly disappointing is that we clearly overheard the same waiter explicitly asking the table next to us which portion size they preferred.
I brought this up to the waiter, but nothing was done to address the issue.
It left a bitter taste at the end of what was meant to be a birthday celebration. Service should be consistent across all tables-if portion size is asked of one customer, it should be asked of all, rather than assumed. Sadly, because of this experience, I won't be returning.
Lucca is truly a place where you get what you pay for - quality fish, meat, pasta, & impeccable service. After visiting for the second time, it has officially earned a spot as one of my top Italian restaurants for fish & pasta.
The service is consistently spot-on: attentive, welcoming, & always ready to enhance the dining experience. Yet, it's the food that speaks volumes. From the moment you taste the in-house bread, you know you're in trouble - it's so good you'll want to eat it all.
The crispy, tender calamari tastes incredibly fresh, & the house-made pappardelle is paired thoughtfully with its accompaniments. The cioppino was so flavorful I could have ordered a cup of the broth to go, while the lamb chops were cooked to absolute perfection. Every sauce tasted as fresh as possible, elevating each dish.
Lucca has become my go-to spot when I'm craving authentic, high-quality Italian cuisine. & don't skip dessert - the homemade tiramisu & pistachio ice cream are simply to die for.
A truly authentic Italian resto. I'm pretty sure my Nonna would have taken a few ideas lol.
We had some of the specials of the day, which I highly recommend trying.
I'm still baffled on how there were able to cook everything perfectly & very timely.
Service was on point, & we were even offered a complimentary glass of limoncello at the end.
See you again soon!
Jun 25, 2025
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