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.
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).
Food: med, nothing special, only high note for calamari. Seafood pasta in white sauce is 7/10. Service: professional but not warm & welcoming. Cozy vibe for family.
Stopped by during the day to see the menu & inquired about reservation. Advised the chef just arrived & menu is not ready yet. Liked the fact that chef is in charge of me he based on available ingredients of the day. Small & cozy place. Reservation was made for 6 PM with our commitment to leave by 8:30 PM. Seasonally available food was fresh Hence, delicious. Fried calamari was heavenly light & crispy. Fresh figs filled with cheese & wrapped in spam was little salty but coupled with glass of red wine was perfect. Grilled Veal chop with polenta & spinach was juicy & cooked to perfection. Halibut, shrimp combined with fresh grilled asparagus, peppers, zucchini, eggplant & anise was my favorite special of the day. Fish was just grill enough to be moist & delicious. Shrimp was crispy yet not dry. Dessert options sounded good but diet killed the pleasure 😔. Oh well next time
Amazing food & pristine service. Very cozy atmosphere. Perfect location for lunch, dinner with friends or colleagues, or a romantic date night. Would not recommend for young kids.
