Lucia’s Gourmet Italian Cuisine

First things first, BYOB and cash only. It’s a cute neighborhood Italian restaurant that feels like it came from another era. We were a large group (15ish) and the service was just fine. Enormous menu with lots of vegetarian pasta options. I had gnocchi with cream sauce that was good if not spectacular. It’s not cheap but the prices are fair given the quality of the food, and you’ll save money with BYOB. It’s nothing extraordinary but you could certainly do worse when you’re in the mood for some pasta.

Want great food and to be treated like family? Go here, bring your favorite bottle of wine. Everything is great, the egg plant appetizer is wonderful as is the gnocchi.

Quaint place that is right off North but a little secluded from the busy street. Food was good. Egg plant appetizer was delicious. Chicken marsala was okay. Actually had too much of a sweet taste. Though staff is nice, service is slow. Did not take advantage of BYOB but that is a nice perk.

My BF and I have walked past this place before and the owner is usually sitting outside saying hello to the community and we’d been meaning to stop in. Tonight I was craving real Italian food so we decided to go. Boy am I glad we found this amazing gem in Wicker Park. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian family owned restaurant, this is your place! The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. Everything from the grilled calamari to the seafood linguini to the tiramisu was truly enjoyable. The portions are generous as you would imagine any real Italian restaurant to be. And the quality was terrific. We will definitely be coming her often as this will be our new local fave.

This place is
! I don’t even meat but I can only imagine that it’s fresh. I’ve never had a fresher sandwich! Highly recommend! Fast delivery too.

Sandwiches are 5 stars, the owner is 1 star. Went in with a female friend, we paid separately. That gave the owner the impression that my friend was alone. He was drinking red wine at a table and couldn’t stop sexually harassing my friend. «Where is your boyfriend? Sit next to me while you wait.» It was extremely uncomfortable for her, and I could feel it, too. Totally pitiful for that old man. I was really embarrassed for him.

I love this place. Really I do. I love the deli sandwiches, I love the fact Lucia is owned by a precious Italian couple, I love the fact everything about this place reminds me of my Italian grandparents. Lucia’s makes me happy. BUT my recent visit left me considerably disappointed.
Olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in Italian food. Italians know how important it is to have high quality olive oil. Chefs know how important it is to have high quality olive oil. And all ingredients for that matter. The olive oil on the table was thin and watery and almost completely without taste. This alone is an Italian cooking sin. The bruschetta was good, but missing that delicious, rich olive oil taste. My linguini with clams. While the clams were flavorful, I blame the «olive oil» for the lacking flavor and almost greasy texture. I had to add crushed red pepper flakes for flavor.
Again, I love Lucia’s. Which is the primary reason I’m writing this review. Ingredients matter. If you want delicious food you have to use delicious and quality ingredients.

Love this place.
I get to eat there 1 – 2 a year, but cater with them 6 – 12 times a year.
I am always impressed with the no fuss service and excellent flavors. I recall a beef dish from 3 years ago that is still one of the best I have had. period.
If you don’t find yourself at Lucia’s bring them to you for your next catered meal, you will thank me.
The dine-​experience is always pleasant but the food shines on its own wherever you eat it.

Amazing food and service. I have been here for dinner and lunch (deli). Both are fantastic. The dining room is byob and the food is delicious. I have had multiple entrees and apps and I have yet to be disappointed. Just recently took my parents here and they fell in love with it. Great byob Italian. You need to come here and try it for yourself.

I just got their pasta special for lunch. I’ve long been a fan of their penne chicken in vodka sauce. It’s truly delicious, but I can’t have creamy sauces anymore. So I have been cursed to the land of things like spaghetti. Not that spaghetti is bad, it is just that so often I find the sauce is bland and the meatballs just taste like meat, it’s usually fine, almost never actually good.
Lucia’s spaghetti and meatballs, is SO good. It is the spaghetti and meat balls my Sicilian grandmother would have made if she didn’t hate garlic. The meatball is meaty and filled with flavors of herbs and parmesan and the sauce is sweet and rich tasting.
Thanks Lucia’s for reminding me what good italian food tastes like! (and for the reasonable delivery fee. YUM)

I have gone there for years and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good. Lucia herself works the kitchen and counter. Enjoy the sandwiches in the informal deli area or wonderful entrees at dinner time in the dinning room. I wish there were more places like this.

We celebrated my 40^th there last night and it was fabulous! There were 17 of us and the staff was so accommodating, we had the front room. The owner kept checking up on us. The food was awesome and who doesn’t love a BYOB especially when the food is delicious! Loved this place!

Very accommodating! They have the best ghnocci around! And its BYOB!!! They take large parties last minute. They have a cute little outdoor patio that is great in the summer. I also love their Involtini di Melanzane (eggplant with stuffed cheese) …mmm sooo delish!!!

I have only gone to the deli — sandwiches are very good and reasonably priced, meatball and turkey club are my fav, friend got italian beef and said it was very good — we are pretty picky about italian beef too. minstrone soup is super good, prob my fav thing there, got a slice of carrot cake that was just ok. if you want italian deli food go here!

Went back to Lucia’s for the first time in many years. It’s still a solid option in terms of a BYOB Italian restaurant, but I guess not really near the top of my recommendations. Service was friendly and at a good pace (we weren’t rushed nor did it take forever to get our orders). I made a reservation for 4 on a Thursday (just in case!) and it wasn’t really necessary as there were only 3 – 4 other tables throughout our time there. The food was fine, but, again, not necessarily anything to rave home about. Dare I say, I could’ve made it all myself for much less than the 4 of us spent. The fried calamari appetizer was a good sized portion, definitely enough for 4 people.

Very good food, great service… why only 3 stars? 1.) I dont like looking at stacked chairs while having dinner on a Saturday night. 2.) I really dont like looking at a garbage can on top of the stacked chairs on a Saturday night. 3.) Actually, fairly expensive for what you get.
If they spent 15 minutes and made the place look a little nicer, we would go back. Again, great service, good food, love the Mom & Pop atmosphere, but if dinner is $ 70 bucks (BYOB-​another plus btw) please remember the ambiance too…

We came in with a party of 20, and they were spectacular. Food was excellent, the service was spot on, and they were patient with our group… which was saying a lot. Really great BYOB Italian spot.

Best bets: italian beef and any of their desserts!
I got the rib eye once and it was a bit charred. Their roast beef deli sandwich was meh nothing special. Service was great though and every sandwich comes with a bag of chips!

Five stars all around.
Great place to stop by and pick up a sandwich– or two (for yourself).
Great place for a byob dinner– you’ll leave full with enough for lunch the next day.
Great place for a byob group dinner– I’ve had them cater for NYE dinner and hosted my birthday there and no one complained.
It’s family run and it shows with their friendliness, food and atmosphere.
FYI– It’s closed on Sunday, which is devastating, but they need a day off too.

Mama mia Lucia’s! Not bad, not bad.
Recommend to us by a friend, a group of us loaded up our two buck chucks and headed to wickah park for some Italian. Lucia’s is kinda old school Italian feel, pretty cozy and dimly lit. Perfect for groups!
My frand and I split the mussels app (just ok) and the veal tortellini (pretty tasty but lacked veal flavor). The waiter was very accomodating to us splitting and put our dishes on separate plates. Thank you very much sir. I also tried my friend’s Bucatini all’Amatriciana, that was tasty as BALLS, I wish I had gotten that.
Also caved and got the lemon crème brûlée… MMM. Perfect ending note.
If you like wickah park, BYOB, carbs, and FUN, go to Lucia’s.