Luce

Finally get to check Luce off of my foodar! Had reservations at 5PM on a Friday which is the time they open. They had regulars outside also waiting. It's not as small as I thought it was inside. Ambiance was warm and inviting. I loved the canvas pics on the wall each telling a story.

We started with red wine for happy hour. My friend initially asked for vodka and olive juice, but was told that's not part of happy hour because of the olive juice. The happy hour red wine was delicious. My first Montepulciano. Then, my friend asked what was on the cheese board and the waitress responded

When you go to Norfolk you must try this place! Authentic Italian. My favorite dish is the rig and goose add sausage. It won't disappoint. The burrata appetizer is also awesome. Pair it with their excellent wines they offer and your in for a real treat. Don't forget dessert!

Hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in the Hampton Roads area! Every pasta dish I've had is *chefs kiss* my favorites so far are the rig and goose and the wild boar ragu. The espresso martinis are also heavenly :)

To be honest, we only came here because it was the closest place open. Now I want to go back to Norfolk just to dine here! The food was amazing! Our server Bella was phenomenal! We basically let her choose our food and every dish she brought was perfection. The homemade pasta was my favorite, but the mushroom pinsa could be a meal itself, so flavorful!

The Chef Should be Proud
My husband and I visited Luce for the first time tonight after waiting about 10 days for our reservation, and my was it worth the wait. First impression- friendly and prompt staff, the family photos were a beautiful touch to the overall decor, they grow their own herbs and cut them fresh for each meal; the space can feel tight during peak hours, however, we feel it adds to the overall character of the environment. The craft cocktails were delightful; may we suggest The Tazewell or Remember the Main to start off your dinner experience. The food- marvelous! The pepperoncini

Called ahead for a reservation 3 days ahead and was told they were booked solid, but we were welcome to come in for a spot at the bar which is first come, first serve. When we arrived several spots at the bar were reserved. When we asked about it we were told “Well when you have a loyal customer who’s been coming in for five years, then we make accommodations.” We ended up with one person in our pair standing the hour we were there with several empty seats and tables that were not filled during that time.
You can decide if this is your kind of place based on their treatment of new customers

This was my first time at Luce but it certainly won't be my last!
First, they were very understanding that we were stuck in traffic for a few minutes. When we arrived, we were quickly seated and then greeted by our server, Nick, who was great! We started off with the 'This is Luce' cocktail and it was delightful! Jerome has been here before so we had a few of his favorites, such as the mushroom toast, malfadine, and pollo con strati. Everything was seasoned cooked to perfection. We also tried the mussels, which Jerome loved (I'm not a fan, so I didn't taste them, but

Really great food and service. Enjoyed a great bourbon flight before dinner. Had a kind of pasta I've never tried before ( looks like lasagna and fettuccine had a baby) and it was delicious. Everyone at our table cleaned their plates!
The only drawback is this place is tiny! Very cramped and primarily high top tables, which I don't find comfortable. Would have been 5 stars otherwise!

Finally ate at Luce last night . I had heard great things and they were all true. Everything we had was fantastic . We started out by sharing the Panzanella salad which was light with great flavor from olives , capers , lemon and rosemary. We also shared The Burrata which was so creamy and delicious served with salami , stuffed cherry peppers and arugula. My husband also had the Octopus appetizer that was served over cannelloni beans and pancetta that was incredible . For entree's we had the Rig and Goose which is a vodka sauce enhanced with a roasted red pepper purée that gives is fantastic

Best Italian restaurant in town. Amazing service and high quality food and drinks. I love their desserts but my Mascarpone berry cake was TOO sweet to my taste. Maybe it's just personal preference but I wish it was half sweet :) definitely my go-to Italian place now! Ciao!

Tried this place while staying in Norfolk for a half marathon. The food is amazing! Very small restaurant so make a reservation is suggested. We didn't, we walked in and they had room at the bar for us. Which turned out great. I definitely want to come back here again. I have other food I want to try. Yummy

My best friends and I chose this as the place to eat on our girls night out. We made the perfect choice. If you decide to go here make sure to make a reservation. We did not think a Monday evening would be busy but the inside was packed and we had to sit outside.

We all got drinks when we arrived. Two of us got a Luce Spritz which was delicious & my other friend got a Ransom Note. That was my first time trying a cocktail made with egg whites and it was delicious. We got some Bruschetta to split which was heavenly. For my entree I ordered the Rig and Goose which again was so great. And to

This restuarant is smaller than what I thought it would be. & Due to how busy it was, our service was extremely slow so I recommend not going when it's a full house. However, EVERYTHING we ordered was so incredibly delicious! The food was packed with amazing rich flavors. We ordered 2 appetizers and 3 entrées and the dessert. The drinks we also on point. I highly recommend dinning here for any occasion.

Luce has been on my list for a while now due to rave reviews from family. When two of my best girlfriends and I were looking for a nice dinner out, I knew this spot could be a winner.

We visited on a Monday night, which I mistakenly assumed would mean they wouldn't be too busy. They were actually booked for the evening (the restaurant was smaller than I'd envisioned), but thankfully we were able to snag a table outside. We got the full experience here with cocktails and three courses.

The drink menu was slightly different than the one found online, but still included several specialties

As someone who travel around the world for food, I typically don't find my hometown Hampton roads area to be known for good food, but I would tirelessly recommend Luce to all my foodie friends any time anyone asks me where to eat. It is just purely good here at Luce no matter what you order.
It says it is an Italian restaurant, but anyone who looks for creative and modern cooking with heart and love, you come to Luce. This time we sat outside and our server Travis was excellent at recommending something new we haven't had. Sautéed calamari was superb that I want to let everyone who

Food and service were some of the best in the area. Pastas are homemade and dish flavors were spot-on. Boar ragu and limoncello mascarpone cake were highlights.
One hope is they get to an online reservation system, or a phone-based one that is more reliable.

Absolutely some of the very best real deal Italian food I have had since my 1 year spent living in NE Italy in 2019. A welcome return to true Italian dining, wine, food, and culture via Chef Caruana and 30 plus years of culinary study and training in Italy but Italians. It shows in his dishes for darn sure. I got a good spread of apps and an entrée a well as 3 different wines. Not a one was anything less than spectacular. I had a bar seat as I was dining alone but that worked out fine as it was a hopping night for business for sure and I can see why that is so! Here is what you gotta know if you

From the minute you walk in the door to the time you walk out the door the atmosphere is great….! attention to detail is the best way to describe our experience from the Host and our server to talking with Chef Tony. The food was just amazing. Being that I’m Italian there’s a certain expectation of any Italian restaurant I eat at. And I’ve eaten at them all in the 757 over 30 years and I can say this without hesitation LUCE’s is by far the best I’ve ever had.!
Thanks to Chef Tony and his staff for a great Anniversary dinner for me and my wife.! Thanks for a awesome time.!

Fresh pasta and a lovely atmosphere, what's not to love?! While on vacation in Norfolk, we hit up Luce's for dinner... which ended up being an early birthday dinner (thanks for helping me celebrate, Luce). We were actually stuffed from a buffet excursion earlier in the day and planned on just having wine and an appetizer but that plan quickly changed once we sat down and got a whiff of what was cooking in the kitchen. I loved that this restaurant has such a homey yet sophisticated vibe. The chef recommendations/selections for some of the drink and food items is a nice touch. Our server

It was a really cozy spot. A nice place for dinner with friends. The food was delicious the service staff were very pleasant and accommodating. Only downside was when I first looked it up online they said they had a dress code but it didn't seem like it when I arrived but I was still a great experience for me and my party. Would definitely return.

I regret not popping by sooner. The only grievance that I had was with the loud customers and the owner from one of the restaurants next door ruining the ambiance by "conversing" shouting about their political viewpoints.
I suppose the restaurant can't really control that but I do feel as if the restaurant should of at least made an effort to protect the smooth quiet ambiance set.
Thankfully both the food and service were phenomenal, my server was knowledgeable about the wine selections and made the perfect recommendation for my meal.

The service was fantastic! Delicious food and the waiters were polite and eager to help. We sat in the back area which we didn't know was there, but the atmosphere was great. A modern feel with the art and music and a touch of Italian nostalgia with the menu. Wonderful valentine's day dinner with my wife! Also, the parking garage is 2 blocks away so it's extremely convenient.

The menu is so tantalizing ! Not your typical Italian spot. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for something different but fresh and flavorful. Had the goat cheese pesto social which was really good and bruschetta for starters .... both were very good. The wild boar , pollo con strati, and Mondo di caesar all of which were really good. My favorite was the pollo con strati! Flavorful was perfect and it was nice and tender.

Luce is a solid Italian restaurant that I would go back to regardless of location.

A couple of friends and I were in the area staying at the Hilton a few blocks away from the restaurant and were looking for a decent, but not too expensive restaurant to eat at for dinner. Yelp reviews really pulled through that night and guided us to Luce.

The interior of the restaurant is modern and kind of confusing. It doesn't necessarily scream Italian bistro, but more of a cocktail bar. I think it's because they have a wine bar and wanted to emphasize that experience they provide as well.

Regardless

We got there without a reservation, but luckily they were able to get us a table within 5mins. The decor was upscale casual, great place to catch up with friends. The server was kind and professional.
Now the important part, food were delicious overall. Mussels di Luce was a great choice. I recommend you request extra pancetta to dip in the flavorful tomato passatta.
I got seafood cioppino and it was perfectly cooked and with the right amount of seasons. It was flavorful and fragrant.
My friend got the capellini della pescatore and I got to try a bit. The sauce definitely made the dish pop.

Fantastic dishes prepared with care and flavor! Luce is an intimate establishment serving delicious food made with passion such as lobster & Prosecco gnocchi, sotto scallops and gamberi e crema al limone. There are a lot of dishes to choose from without being overwhelmed, ranging from seafood, poultry, pork and beef. The food presentation is wonderful without sacrificing taste nor skimping on the portion size. Your palate will be pleasantly pleased and your belly will be left satiated.

We only had the flash fried calamari as an appetizer although there were a few more that were calling