Luce Restaurant & Bar

First of all I have to commend the service at Luce. They really go above and beyond! The reason I say this is because I ordered a pasta dish that included lobster. I was expecting a dish where the meat was mixed in with the pasta, but this dish had a full lobster claw! I have never cracked my own lobster claw before so I asked our server to show me how to do it. She said "no worries, we will do this for you in the kitchen and bring it back out to you!" I was very impressed by this. Located in the Truist Plaza in Uptown, this spot is a hidden gem. They are open until 10 pm, so a good place for a late dinner. They are also walking distance from the theater, so consider stopping in before seeing a show. On nights when shows are being held, like when we went, you might be treated to mostly empty restaurant with no wait. Just some things to consider, but I definitely recommend!

We went here last week and really enjoyed everything. We made reservations in advance (however they do have a small cozy bar area) and were seated immediately. We asked to have our meal spaced so we could enjoy our app, entrees and dessert in a timely manner. The food was fantastic and I'm surprised I don't hear about about this place more often. I got the Halibut & I was very impressed with it. Very fresh and a great size. We did two glasses of the wine and I did a classic Italian spritzer and it was great (I'll be back for that alone) everything was excellent and we can't wait to come back.

This restaurant is difficult to find if you're not already aware it is in the Truist Center. They kindly validate your parking. I came here for Valentines dinner and ordered two appetizers and my partner and I each had an entree. The burrata appetizer was the best thing we ordered and was delicious. However, we asked what the best menu item was and we were told the carbonara. However, it tasted very watery and almost like a microwave meal. I've had other carbonara and this was not comparable. Additionally, while possibly authentic, the olive oil dip for the bread came with beans inside it. It threw me off and had an overwhelming flavor. The server was kind but obviously busy. The drinks were also very good. Overall, service was decent but not great but it was Valentines Day so no hard feelings there. I was just underwhelmed overall with the food.

The experience was overall a very good one. The service was very attentive with a waitress and multiple table attendees for water, bread, dishes, etc. The restaurant was lightly lit with space between tables for privacy and conversation. We started with two drinks ... Rosa and Limoncello. Both were made just right ... served martini style. Bread with a bean spread comes with each table. Meatballs was the appetizer of choice. Flavorful and tender. I chose the marsala chicken plate with garlic olive oil pasta. Lived the chicken. The pasta was cooked al dente. The garlic olive oil, though, had a lot of red pepper and salt. We also ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes. The potatoes were amazing .. seasoned perfectly. The asparagus was just that side of crisp. The filet cooked to a perfect medium and covered with a deep flavored truffle demi glaze. We followed with a creme brule and tiramisu. I must say I liked the desserts but were not wow'd by either. We were able to follow up the dinner with 30 year tawny port!!They do validate parking for the building garage.

I'll try not to gush too much, but oh boy, this place top - down is phenomenal. I do fine dining on occasion in Savannah and Charleston, but they need to step their game up because Luce raised the bar.Pros:- Phenomenal Chicken Parm. Absolutely delicious piece of chicken that was cooked perfectly. I've had chicken parm in Boston and I'd say this one takes it.- Bread. You must give free bread. They do and it's one of the better free breads you'll have. (Not going to lie the beans with it is odd)- Eggplant Parm Appetizer was delicious as well. It was very homey tasting and tasted REAL. - The Red Sauce used on my pasta and chicken parm is my favorite I've had in any restaurant.- My wife's birthday! They really did make it special: They gave a birthday card, got some free champagne, and even wrote 30 on the chocolate torte.Cons:- There was not a single thing I could complain about. So yeah! It was my wife's birthday (the big 30) and we know of It'sQCP from Youtube Shorts so we wanted to try Luce because of all that. Parking for this place is very easy and as soon as you take the elevator down...boom! You take a right and there's the restaurant. Very simple. Also, they do validate and pay for your parking at the parking garage so you don't have to pay $20.Anyway, got wine, got the eggplant appetizer (do get this) and we put our orders in. I did enjoy the inside of this place. It was very simple with a touch of being fancy. It was a good vibe. Servers were on it. They checked and replaced things very quickly; knifes, forks, water, refill wine. I was very impressed by this.My wife got filet mignon and she said it was the best she's ever had...now my chicken parm was perfect. The perfect amount of cheese, the perfect amount of sauce, a perfect crunch at both ends. Man...I'm going to be thinking of that chicken parm way too long. The pasta paired with it was light and refreshing to go with the heavy chicken. I will say, I prefer my chicken parm paper thin and this was a thick chicken parm...but! With it cooked perfectly I made an exception and can gladly say that is a Top-3 chicken parm I've ever had. Also, we had a chocolate torte that was the definition of indulgent.One of my favorite restaurant experiences I've ever had. It was intimate and not crowded. If you go anywhere in Savannah or Charleston I feel like you get lost in the crowd while fine dining and the staff can't make it "special" for your event. Luce hit a homerun with this. I cannot wait to go back for a birthday or life achievement. They have an earned "one of my favorite restaurants".

f you're in Uptown Charlotte there isn't a shortage of quality Italian restaurants and @lucerestaurantclt is right up there with the best. I had never been and am so glad I decided to head in on a rainy Saturday to check it out. The service is hard to beat, everyone was incredibly friendly and knowledgable. Their fresh baked bread was perfect. Soft on the inside with a great crunch on the crust. I went ahead and skipped an appetizer and went straight for their carbonara. This is by far the BEST carbonara in the city. It is done perfectly. The noodles were perfectly al dente and the sauce was full of flavor. The guanciale and panchetta were perfectly portioned. Not to mention, the portion size was MASSIVE! The Conte Restaurant Group has always been top notch, Luce is no different!

We recently went to Luce Restaurant for my daughter's 16th birthday. She did all of the research, read the reviews and made the reservation. When you get to Luce, you have to go through the lobby of the Truist building because of construction outside. However, once you get in, you immediately notice the ambiance and atmosphere is well deserving of the great reviews. We were promptly seated and within a matter of minutes our server was over and helped us with the menu, drinks and answered all of our questions. The service was impressive and we never felt like we were being unattended. The food came out quickly and everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. When you look at the menu, it's touches on many tastes so you're sure to find something. Overall, the food, the atmosphere and ambiance were perfect. My daughter was very happy with everything and the staff did a wonderful job of making her feel special.

Ambiance and service were amazing. My dish was angel hair with traditional marinara, eggplant and vegetables. I added shrimp and they were huge and grilled. Sooo good! The bread was hot, thick and delicious. I took tiramisu home which was a dream. They brought us a desert for our anniversary. I also had a glass of sangria. This place is very romantic and has a patio. Pics are early evening so don't be fooled, it gets full and you need a reservation most nights.

It was good, but probably won't go back. The bruschetta and meatballs were our favorite part. The risotto was good, but didn't love the scallops with it. The lasagna has lotssss of cheese & an interesting flavor. Only the bruschetta tasted fresh which was disappointing.

This place is the best Italian restaurant I've ever been too. We went there for my birthday and it was amazing. The staff was very friendly and on point with their service.