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).
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.
Nov 30, 2025
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Lucca has become my'wishful thinking lunch cafeteria' as in... If I had enough money I would be eating here a few times every week for lunch! The team here is a big part of the reason why... both in front & behind the counter. They select fresh ingredients & produce a lot of what they sell in-house ... hello pasta & the wait staff is a bunch of several years experience regular staff (what a rare thing to find these days!!!). I have brought so many friends & associates there & realized I had not done a review for them & felt guilty about it... that's how good it is! Come in & try the specials of the day & tell me I'm wrong!
Then as a bonus, the decor is épuré & posh modern, they have a nice terrasse in the summer & their wine selection will show you some of the best Italy has to offer at a modest price considering!
CIao
Ristorante Lucca really delivers when it comes to Italian food. Everything we ordered was fresh & full of flavour. The service was solid , professional & friendly. I especially liked the terrace, nice ambiance without trying too hard. Also a good wine selection with options that pair well with the menu. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.
Absolutely amazing gastronomic experience ! Very tasty & fresh pasta Traditionnal & very friendly service Great Wine selection & pairs well to the food !
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
Excellent food, friendly service, great menu choices. We started with fried calamari & grilled octopus. It was fresh & delicious. As for the main course I had the filet mignon it was amazing & my better half had the gnocchi, he loved it, it's handmade by their chef! I recommend this place.
I had the spinach & cheese ravioli here & it was to die for. Fresh pasta, fresh spinach, all homemade & fresh ingredients & you can really tell the difference. Everyone in our group loved their meals. It was so delicious. Lovely warm, intimate ambiance as well & excellent service. Looking forward to the next time I eat here!
