Lucca North End

“Food: Lucca was excellent, and the food had that richer North End Italian feel without losing freshness. The meatballs were a great start. They were tender, covered in a bright tomato sauce, and finished with enough creamy cheese to make the dish feel comforting without turning heavy. The bolognese was exactly the kind of pasta dish I want at a place like this. Rich, meaty, and satisfying, with the sauce clinging to the penne instead of just sitting at the bottom of the bowl. The wild boar ragu was even more memorable. It had a deeper, more savory flavor than a standard meat sauce, with enough richness to feel special without becoming too heavy. The pasta held up well, and the basil and cheese helped keep the dish from feeling one-note. The seafood dish brought a nice break from the heavier plates, with a bright tomato broth, fresh seafood, and grilled bread that was perfect for dragging through the sauce. The calamari was also strong: crisp, light, and actually enjoyable instead of feeling like a filler appetizer. Service: Service was polished, attentive, and smooth. The meal moved at a good pace, and everything felt handled properly without being stiff. Summary: Easy 5/5. Lucca delivered the kind of Italian meal you hope for in the North End: great meatballs, rich pasta, fresh seafood, and dishes that felt comforting but still carefully made.”

“First time my wife and I came to this place. Have to say, it was delish! We started with the chicken arancini, it was a recommended special - so good, with so much flavor! For the Entree’s I got the Chicken satumboca. Chicken was so tender and flavorful. The crispy potato’s had a yummy lemon flavor. My wife got the Oriechette alla Norma. I even tried a sample of the pasta! The service was beverages were great as well. I got a cider, and my wife got a martini. Would definitely recommend stopping here for a fine dinning dinner, such a wonderful place! It’s also in the north end of Boston, right on Hanover St. a perfect spot! I would recommend making a reservation, times do fill quickly! Enjoy!”

“great experience. service was top notch, our app, pasta, and dessert were all excellent. in particular, the arancini ball special app was a fun twist on the typical, and the casarecce was incredible, with clearly fresh pasta. glad we gave this a shot, this is a more modern take on Italian and its all fantastic”

“Hello, today my girlfriend and I had dinner at your restaurant to celebrate her birthday. The atmosphere, staff, service, and drinks were excellent. However, I can't say the same positive things about the food. We ordered Braised Chicken Fettuccine and Rigatoni Bolognese. The fettuccine was green due to the sauce and looked nice, but it lacked basil or garlic flavor, was under-salted, and had no black pepper. It tasted no different from homemade pasta. The Rigatoni Bolognese also lacked garlic, salt, and black pepper. Some of the meat in the ragù sauce was left in large chunks, and the rigatoni was slightly overcooked. The Caesar salad was quite good, but the croutons were not very good. I have been working as a chef for 19 years, and I am writing this message as a professional. I'm sure you have a really good restaurant and can do better.”

“Lucca is one of those spots you’re glad exists when you land late and still want a real dinner instead of airport snacks. The boar pasta was excellent, easily the highlight, but the rest of the menu landed squarely in the “fine, not great” category. The real win here is the late-night hours and the cozy bar scene. It’s a great place to unwind if you enjoy a solid, slightly above average Old Fashioned and good conversation after a travel day. Friendly staff, warm vibe, just don’t expect culinary fireworks. Come for the pasta, stay for the bar.”