Lucian Books and Wine

Great ambiance and delicious food. I love the tapas style menu and everything we had was amazing. The wine list is great. Prefer sitting at bar and people watching.. Love the smaller space it is in for a more intimate dining experience.Self parking free under the restaurant for 2 hours.

From the decor to the bathroom candles, every aspect of Lucian has been crafted with intention and meticulous attention to detail. The lighting fixtures, tile work, and overall ambiance reflect an exquisite design sensibility that transforms a meal into an experience. The owners and FOH are perfection and make you feel at absolute ease. The BOH speaks for itself.In my opinion, Lucian ranks among the top 2-3 restaurants in Atlanta. It is an absolute crime that it did not receive at least a mention in the Michelin Guide 2024--a glaring omission that left me gutted.Having frequented Lucian 7-8 times, I was introduced to this remarkable spot by the lovely ladies at Jackson Fine Art. I look forward to sharing a detailed review after my next visit, but for now, it's safe to say that Lucian is a dining experience that should not be missed.

If there's one word that describes this place perfectly, it's classy. The interior is modern and chic, with a gorgeous bar up against one wall of windows and the opposite wall full of cookbooks and other foodie books. All of the books are available for purchase, and there's also a table up front with Cherry Bombe and some other magazines/small books for purchase. We bought a book on Italian wines, and it came with a paper wrap sealed with a sticker, which was a nice touch. The food menu is streamlined, but every thing on it is done so well. We started with an order of the oysters with strawberry, basil, and lime mignonette as well as an order of the fries with tarragon mayo. The fries were piping hot and crispy- it was clear they had just come out of the fryer- and the tarragon mayo was a nice unusual twist. One of our mains was the French omelette, which was perfectly cooked and came topped with caviar with some herbed crème fraîche on the side. The other was the salmon, which came over a pea purée with carrot ribbons- it was the perfect spring dish. We ended with the toffee pudding, which was pretty small, but we enjoyed it. The food was pretty pricey, but felt worth it because everything was so well-made. The wine list is extensive, including selections by the glass- there was a nice range of options available, including different varietals/countries at different price points. Our server was knowledgeable and able to recommend pairings that went well with our food. Every member of the staff was so friendly and attentive, which we really appreciated. This was a really nice place to spend an hour or two!

We had a good meal at Lucian, over a year after deciding we had to try it out. The concept of small bites in a bookshop with great wine and champagne was what had me hooked on making a reservation. We finally made it on a Friday before New Year's Eve. We found the underground parking easily, and once inside we had a short wait to "take a look at the books while we get your table ready". I love the selection of beautiful coffee table books on art, cooking, wines and more. You can either purchase by adding to your food check, or cashing out at the table then taking your books to the front to pay. On the food: we knew we wanted to try the omelet after reading a NYT review. It didn't disappoint; the roe gives a sharp pop of contrast to the creamy egg and crème fraiche. We also enjoyed the oysters; the fresh pear in the mignonette was amazing. The salads were amazing - well-balanced flavor combinations and textures. I'd recommend skipping the entrees, and enjoying instead a range of the small and medium dishes to share. On the service: our party had mixed reviews here. Half thought the server was super bored and didn't want to be there; the other half thought she was snooty and a bit over-the-top / arrogant. Whatever it was, everyone else we came into contact with was delightful, friendly and warm. I always like restaurants bringing new cutlery for each set of dishes served, but found it strange and clumsy that they served the liver pate with only teaspoons (one to serve, and one each to... spread? Spoon onto the toast?). I'd have asked for a knife, but our server had temporarily disappeared, so we made do with the trio of teaspoons. Checking out, we settled up at the table for the meal and then purchased 2 books at the host stand. I loved the simple paper wrap around the books - a really lovely touch, and gift wrap was an option in case of buying for someone else. We got our parking ticket validated, but needn't have bothered; they validate for 2 hours (the time you're allowed to occupy a table), but since we were a little over that with our book purchase, we still had to pay the minimum $3 for parking. On the way home, I had a notification from my bank that the restaurant had attempted to make another charge of over $600 to my credit card (after the $260+ meal charge and the ~$50 book purchase had gone through). It may have been a mistake, but it leaves a bad taste - they shouldn't be able to make a transaction without the card present. Luckily my bank declined it, or it was reversed by the restaurant - but either way, it was disappointing to feel they may not be fastidious in managing customer payments. 3/5 after this snafu, otherwise it would have been a 4/5 for me.

This highly recommended Buckhead spot is one of my faves in Atlanta. It's the perfect place for someone like me who enjoys books that you find at Rizzoli Books and knows a bit about wine varietals. I found myself here on a random afternoon over a glass of Granacha and I do not have a single regret. It was the kind of self care that I entertain. They offer lunch, afternoon service and dinner. Make reservations if you want a meal, or just afternoon stroll in like I did. I found myself beautifully set up at the bar. Be prepared to be amongst some of the finest purveyors of food and drink in Atlanta. The staff will make you feel like they've been waiting all day for your arrival. You will feel like you've entered an ethereal children's boom that is everything refined adult as you linger as long as you'd like. See website for more details and hours.

Nice atmosphere, fun books. Came here with a group of four. The food was okay, but I think it's really overpriced. We ordered the pappardelle, as one of our 7 dishes, for example, which was $26. We each got to have 2 noodles, with 1 noodle leftover. That means the plate, which was tiny, came with 9 total noodles. The 2 noodles I tried were good, but just doesn't feel worth it. Same with the risotto - it was ~$23 and came with literally 4 small-sized spoonfuls. Rice and noodles aren't exactly luxury items, feels weird to skimp. For the hamachi crudo ($22) it came with 4 TINY pieces of hamachi, and they were cut in the wrong direction (for cutting hamachi - maybe this was on purpose?). The piece my friend got had a bone fragment in it and when we shared this with the server she said "oh that's normal." Service, as others have mentioned, was a bit snobby. We were visiting from an expensive city, and these prices are way more than anything I've experienced for what I received. You honestly couldn't order two dishes as one person and even feel moderately satisfied (because you'd have literally 2-3 forkfuls!). We each ended up paying about $95 for 1 drink, 7 shared items, and tax and tip - it was not worth it. Think this is a good spot for a drink and maybe a small snack. I would probably go somewhere else in this area if I had a choice.

We had a great experience at the restaurant. The chef had previously worked at restaurant Eugene, and it showed in the unique and delicious flavors of each dish. We had a group of four and we ordered 4 appetizers and 2 entrees. The hamachi was refreshing, and the Maine oysters were good. The swordfish was tender, and the fries were exceptional. The Panna cotta dessert had the perfect level of sweetness and a delightful crunch. The dark chocolate was also wonderful! The only downside was that the portions were very small. On the beight side, there was a Shake Shack next door in case you are still hungry! Very limited bar service and of course they had a great wine selection.

This was just the first stop on a multiple stop adventure. The goal was to keep it light and just experience the vibes! And let me tell you ... the vibes here are IMMACULATE. Let me tell you one more thing ... I had the absolute BEST Gin Martini here. When they tell you a well made cocktail is an EXPERIENCE, I truly felt it. Every sip gave everything it was supposed to give. Everything I want in a Martini ... Stirred not shaken, lemon twist for aromatics, peel rubbed on the rim for just the hit of flavored and just top quality liquor. Since we were here mainly to drink and chat, my friend and I just ordered a side of fries to split. They were nice a crispy with a tasty dipping sauce but The drinks were absolutely the main hit here lets not distract. I really would love to come back for an actual meal service. Please make a reservation in advance because this place will end up being hot commodity in this community once discovered by the masses.

A dim and cozy corner Of Buckhead don't be fooled by the reference to Books! This is a small restaurant with a few tables and fine dining. We particularly enjoyed the fluffy omelette with caviar and crème fraîche and the truffle polenta. The Hamachi Crudo makes a great appetizer as well, and I would pair it with the skin contact white wine. A special night out. (Quick note to the kitchen: the pappardelle with sausage Ragu needs more sausage in it and a bump up on the seasoning!)

Worth the wait! My husband and I had a wonderful meal, service and experience Friday early evening at Lucian. The restaurant offers a curated experience a cool vibe, custom light fixtures and ceiling to floor unique drapery. The fries will delight even the fussiest of guests. Nicely stocked bar, plenty of wine options, and diverse menu options. We made reservations for the bar and were pleased that we did. The Bartender did an excellent job to directing us to best meal options based on a couple of food restrictions, was engaging and attentive to all 8 of his bar guests. I travel a good deal and always delight in trying out new restaurants, this one is definitely worth visiting.