Lucca Restaurants

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I enjoyed a yummy lunch break with my VT friend Sioma on the outdoor terrace of the Trattoria da Leo. It is a small family-style trattoria which is specialised in traditional tuscan cuisine.

For info about local meals please also check my "Local Custom tips". Taking the central location into account, prices are quite reasonable at the Trattoria da Leo.

Cafe del Mercato, also called Il Barino is one of the cafes situated at piazza San Michele. Here you can have something to eat, as first courses (pasta, gnocchi, rice dishes), panini (sandwiches), crepes and some other things. There is a limited offer on the menu at this cafe, but you can ask what they prepared for that day. Quite surely there is something which is not written on the menu.

This cafe is small, but has some tables outside.

Favorite Dish: I ate there lots of times and I enjoyed everything I ordered. My favourite dish at Il Barino was farfalle con salmone (a kind of pasta; noodles with salmon).

Crema e Cioccolato is my favourite ice cream place when I am in Lucca. It is a small place with few places to sit inside and three benches outside. Here you can find many ice cream tastes to choose from.

At Crema e Cioccolato you can also have some sweet crepes.

Favorite Dish: Pineapple and stracciatella (cream with small pieces of chocolate) tastes are really good.

We spent our first dinner in Lucca in this pizzeria and what a treasure! The pizzas are really good cook and tasting and big tooo :) The service is also fast and clean as well as the owner who seems very happy man.

The restaurant is spacious and also offer the service in the terrace (in summer), very nice.

Favorite Dish: We had a nice big salad as starter and a couple of pizza with parma ham, mozzarella, tomatoe sauce and rucola!!!
mmmmm very tasting :)

If an elderly lady turns up, on her own, she will be shunted off to the table next to the toilet. Solo travellers are obviously an embarassment. The food was excellent. and doubtless so was the ambience in the next room, from what one could hear of it, over the cionstant flushing of the toilet a few inches from my table. The restaurant was not busy, and such discourtesy is inexcusable. If you are on your own, ladies, go elsewhere

Da Leo has both an outdoor dining area and the more atmospheric indoor dining room. The dining room was crowded and had a 'buzzy' atmosphere and occasional bursts of song from the waiters.
We each started with a different farro soup, then we each had a roast: veal and pork. Unfortunately the roast potatoes were finished so we were offered chips but chose instead roast vegetables and fennel. We drank water and the house red. The bread, already sliced, was brought to the table in brown paper bags to prevent it from drying out, and proved excellent for sopping up the soup and gravy. We finished with one lemon gelati and one tiramisu.
Good food, wine and service and lots of entertainment from both the waiters and people watching.

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This was my best meal in Lucca and I was there 5 days painting on my first trip and several days the year after. Call and make reservations. Even on a weekeday at lunch it is popular with the locals. They won't try to squeeze you in unless you are very lucky.
It is a bit of a walk from the center of Lucca, YOU NEED A MAP, the circular streets keep you a bit lost.

Favorite Dish: My best dish there was roast goat. I also love their spelt soup with artichokes.

While in Lucca, Allan and I were fortunate to have experienced Buca di S. Antonio, a marvelous restaurant with delicious food, creative presentation, efficient service, outstanding wines, ambience, and a wonderful history.

In ancient Tuscan,Buca" is equivalent to "Taverna" or "Osteria" and documents dating back as far as 1782 refer to "Osteria a S. Antonio". In the 18th century "Buca" was a place to eat but also a livery and a stable!

The Buca is owned by Franco Barbieri and Giuliano Pacini, and it is one of "Lucca's most characteristic places."

The interior is unique with wonderful arches, all kinds of brass kitchenware hanging from the ceiling and the walls. It has dark wooden beams on the ceiling as well as dark, beautiful wood on the bottom portion of some walls.

Favorite Dish: Some of the dishes that Buca S. Antonio is most popular for are:

1. Ravioli di ricotta alle zucchine

2. Tortelli lucchesi al sugo

3. Pappardelle alla lepre

4. Carpaccio di trota salmonata
con radicchietti di campo

5. Petto di faraona all'uva moscato

6. Capretto garfagnino allo spiedo
con erbette saltate

7. Fegatelli di maiale allo spiedo con rapini

Allan had Goat meat, pasta in butter, and a salad.
I had a Guinea hen, Bean Farro Soup, and
Salad.

We also enjoyed a bottle of Brunella (1993) wine, which was delicious! (It should be for what it cost)!

It was indeed a wonderful evening with great food, excellent wine, a lovely environment, and the best company (my husband).