It was nice to have a return visit to a cozy local spot. We sat at the bar and were welcomed very nicely by bartender Chris. He expertly advised a cabernet and we coupled that with mushroom toast and calamari. Definitely would get those again although want to try other things...which we shall. Looking forward to a full blown dinner. Kitchen is open til 12 I think...and this isn't just "bar" food. Dishes are fine dining and presentation material. Try it!
Esha R.
I can't believe I didn't come try this place earlier, but I'm glad that I finally went. On the corner of the busy street of Granby in downtown Norfolk Luce can be easily missed by the other locations around it but once you walk in you get immersed into a beautiful, ambient themed bar and upscale restaurant. The waitress was very attentive, and when I asked for a mock tail that was spicy she was able to work with the bartender to make this happen. The appetizers were portioned well for the cost and for four people to share. The bread was crispy and soft on the inside. The toasted cheese was not as warm as we would gave liked to dip with the bread that came with it, but still delicious overall. As for the appetizers, there were only two vegetarian pasta options, but we ordered both and they were amazing! Definitely would come here for a date/celebration with close friends. Just know they that you will definitely need a reservation cause this place is always packed and there is a two hour cutoff that is strictly adhered to! Have to go try the other one in Chesapeake now!
Thiane G.
What a great Italian restaurant! This came highly recommended by a friend so I went with her to try it out and was totally impressed. We sat at the bar on the side that's near the entrance. It's definitely noisy inside the restaurant because it's so small but it led to a vibrant atmosphere. We started with the fried calamari appetizer and it was amazing! The dipping sauce was so hearty and flavorful. It reminded me of a Senegalese tomato sauce. For my entree I got the lemon pasta with shrimp and asparagus. This was a perfect plate: the shrimp were plump and fresh, the sauce was delightfully creamy, the asparagus was cooked just right, and the pasta noodles were chewy and filling. I requested some garlic bread on the side and that was delicious too! You can tell the olive oil is high quality. Coming here is definitely a treat and on the pricey side but definitely worth it with how well done the food is!
Caroline J.
This was a great dining experience all-around! Pros: Easy to make online reservations (make sure to make one a few weeks out) Extremely nice staff from the hostess to our waitress they were great. Great cocktail and wine list. Husband loved his glad of wine. The basil-lemon infused water-refreshing! Food-all the dishes we tried were so good and freshly made. We had the rig & goose and added chicken-.great flavor! The special of the day was a slow roasted beef ragu which was so good over fresh pappardelle pasta. We also started the night with the mushroom appetizer which was so flavorful! Dessert was the hazelnut cake with espresso ice cream-so yummy! Cons: Nothing! Just a few things to note: It is a small restaurant but it feels nice and intimate inside. Most of the seating is high top or bar seats. There is one table for 6 but most of the high tops are 4 tops. The bathroom is shared with the building and is a little bit of a walk. Nothing bad! Can't wait to go to their Chesapeake location for more of their amazing food!
Cindy Sanzotta
Wonderful restaurant! Wish this was in my neighborhood. I would become a regular. Best Saltimbocca I have had in the US! Everything was lovely and well prepared and we had an excellent wine we were unfamiliar with and loved it. Make a reservation - not many tables inside. It’s great!! Thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Saltimbocca
Roger Hopper
Cozy, romantic venue with exceptional food, drinks, and service. Limited seating - highly recommend looking for a reservation a week or two in advance, more than worth the effort! The Persephone cocktail is basic and fine, but the Ransom Note is a perfect must-try, a masterful and complex combination of floral gin and elderflower balanced by lime and simple and brought all together by egg white. Avocado Bruschetta and Insalata di Luce are both delicious and come exactly as advertised, can't go wrong with either. Chef's special Stuffed Gnocchi topped with sliced grilled filet was out of this world, my deepest condolences to everyone who doesn't get to try it, although considering how perfectly the gnocchi, filet, and sauce were prepared, no doubt whatever other rotating specials come and go are bound to also be fantastic. Lobster and Prosecco Gnocchi was outstanding and exquisitely prepared as well. The This is Luce cocktail is good, especially for whisky lovers, a bit of a stronger option, and the red sangria was very nice, with plenty of Triple Sec or Gran Marnier or something citrusy in there to go around. Torta Nocciola and Tentazione di Cioccolate were both very nice options for dessert, not as outstanding as the Ransom Note, Avocado Bruschetta, or Stuffed Gnocchi, but very good. Amazing experience all-around, one of the best restaurants in Hampton Roads!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster and Prosecco Gnocchi
Martha Q.
For someone who avoids pasta and such this was a total worthwhile splurge! Chris was so cordial and attentive despite being super busy. And I loved the atmosphere!
J C
I visited January 4 and 30. My overall combined experience was fabulous. The food was delicious, and the bartenders were exceptional. I appreciated the late hours and relaxing atmosphere.The scallops were good on my first visit. Christopher was the bartender that night, and his service was top-notch!My second visit started with the tasty "Ransom Note." Then onto a flight of Scotch... while devouring the lamb. Go with lamb and skip desert!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Orlinda L.
Make sure you have a reservation!!! We got here right at open and sat at the bar! We started off with an amazing Mushroom Toast! It's a huge appetizer and is super filling and tasty! Afterwards we ordered a glass of wine, we let the server know what pasta we had and he gave us an amazing recommendation! We ordered the chefs special Stuffed Gnocchi! It was amazing!!! So flavorful and the sausage was cooked to perfection! The chocolate ganache cake was sooo soft and good!! My favorite dessert! I recommend this spot!!
Paula C.
Grateful that they were able to accommodate my husband's dietary needs. He's had to have gluten-free, dairy-free diet, and he can't have tomatoes either. They whipped up a special pasta for him with shrimp and mushrooms. It was so good
Amazing Italian restaurant in downtown Norfolk. The menu is large for such a tiny restaurant, but I highly recommend the pasta. Luce’s pasta is extraordinary and reminds me of Rome. The restaurant is very small, with the floor plan dominated by the bar and only a handful of tables in the restaurant. That’s why you need a reservation about a week in advance.Vegetarian options: Several very good vegetarian pastas featured on the menu.
The ambience is fantastic. I found things I loved and things I didn't think I liked that much on the menu. Ask questions, the professional wait staff is top-notch. The drinks are made with care and are spot on. Love the first three appetizers, tomato, lobster, Soto scallops.(left-hand side of the menu) I like to get things that I don't cook at home so I enjoyed the veal chop Milanese. (A lot) Or just try to find a spot at the bar and get a cocktail!
Nikki C.
We had an event to go to Friday night so we stopped by Luce before they opened to ensure we got a seat since we didn't make reservations. Before we knew it, there was a line waiting! We were seated at the bar which was comfortable. We were surrounded by "regulars" which is always neat to see people who build relationships with the staff by how often they frequent. As my entree, I got the Pinsa Di Parma and dessert I got Tentazione di Cioccolate. They both were delicious. I kind of regret not getting the bruschetta as an appetizer. I saw someone get it and it looked great! Oh well. Next time.
Lou Dema
If I told you I can still taste my dinner there after two week, you wouldn’t believe me. It has to be one of the best meals I have ever had. The creativity of the chef and the flavors is beyond words. First place I am going when I go back.
Top notched, highly recommended for sure.For starters, the service was wonderful from the time my friends and I came without reservation. The hostess asked the bartender if something could be done to accommodate us; and he did! The bar staff was hands down personable and friendly, the Australian accent definitely brought the added charm! Even Sheila was happy regarding the service.Ambiance was casual trendy with seemingly faithful patrons whose name the bar staff remembers. Small place but packed with lively spirit, and not just those along the bar shelves. Speaking of drinks, one friend of mine enjoyed her red wine from Spain, well it’s St. Patrick’s day so wine tasting was in the offing. My other friend wanted some refreshing cocktail. The bartender prepared a vodka and lime mix with orange twist. She absolutely loved it.The food was absolutely second to none, well maybe only to Luce Secondo, its sister restaurant. I ordered the Tonno and Tomatoes which was wonderfully mouth-pleasing dish with perfectly seared ahi tuna on Parmesan infused polenta accented by sweet and tart ripe cherry tomatoes in a wonderful sauce.Ordered the hazelnut cake with espresso ice cream for dessert. It was the best of 3 desserts we ordered, the other 2 being the limoncello mascarpone cake and the rum infused puff pastry.Was a more than satisfying dinner, will definitely come back to try other dishes (my friends ordered the cioppino and clams and pulpo (grilled octopus) appetizer. They lived their food but I won’t pirate their turn to write their own reviews!
It was nice to have a return visit to a cozy local spot. We sat at the bar and were welcomed very nicely by bartender Chris. He expertly advised a cabernet and we coupled that with mushroom toast and calamari. Definitely would get those again although want to try other things...which we shall. Looking forward to a full blown dinner. Kitchen is open til 12 I think...and this isn't just "bar" food. Dishes are fine dining and presentation material. Try it!
I can't believe I didn't come try this place earlier, but I'm glad that I finally went. On the corner of the busy street of Granby in downtown Norfolk Luce can be easily missed by the other locations around it but once you walk in you get immersed into a beautiful, ambient themed bar and upscale restaurant. The waitress was very attentive, and when I asked for a mock tail that was spicy she was able to work with the bartender to make this happen. The appetizers were portioned well for the cost and for four people to share. The bread was crispy and soft on the inside. The toasted cheese was not as warm as we would gave liked to dip with the bread that came with it, but still delicious overall. As for the appetizers, there were only two vegetarian pasta options, but we ordered both and they were amazing! Definitely would come here for a date/celebration with close friends. Just know they that you will definitely need a reservation cause this place is always packed and there is a two hour cutoff that is strictly adhered to! Have to go try the other one in Chesapeake now!
What a great Italian restaurant! This came highly recommended by a friend so I went with her to try it out and was totally impressed. We sat at the bar on the side that's near the entrance. It's definitely noisy inside the restaurant because it's so small but it led to a vibrant atmosphere. We started with the fried calamari appetizer and it was amazing! The dipping sauce was so hearty and flavorful. It reminded me of a Senegalese tomato sauce. For my entree I got the lemon pasta with shrimp and asparagus. This was a perfect plate: the shrimp were plump and fresh, the sauce was delightfully creamy, the asparagus was cooked just right, and the pasta noodles were chewy and filling. I requested some garlic bread on the side and that was delicious too! You can tell the olive oil is high quality. Coming here is definitely a treat and on the pricey side but definitely worth it with how well done the food is!
This was a great dining experience all-around! Pros: Easy to make online reservations (make sure to make one a few weeks out) Extremely nice staff from the hostess to our waitress they were great. Great cocktail and wine list. Husband loved his glad of wine. The basil-lemon infused water-refreshing! Food-all the dishes we tried were so good and freshly made. We had the rig & goose and added chicken-.great flavor! The special of the day was a slow roasted beef ragu which was so good over fresh pappardelle pasta. We also started the night with the mushroom appetizer which was so flavorful! Dessert was the hazelnut cake with espresso ice cream-so yummy! Cons: Nothing! Just a few things to note: It is a small restaurant but it feels nice and intimate inside. Most of the seating is high top or bar seats. There is one table for 6 but most of the high tops are 4 tops. The bathroom is shared with the building and is a little bit of a walk. Nothing bad! Can't wait to go to their Chesapeake location for more of their amazing food!
Wonderful restaurant! Wish this was in my neighborhood. I would become a regular. Best Saltimbocca I have had in the US! Everything was lovely and well prepared and we had an excellent wine we were unfamiliar with and loved it. Make a reservation - not many tables inside. It’s great!! Thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Saltimbocca
Cozy, romantic venue with exceptional food, drinks, and service. Limited seating - highly recommend looking for a reservation a week or two in advance, more than worth the effort! The Persephone cocktail is basic and fine, but the Ransom Note is a perfect must-try, a masterful and complex combination of floral gin and elderflower balanced by lime and simple and brought all together by egg white. Avocado Bruschetta and Insalata di Luce are both delicious and come exactly as advertised, can't go wrong with either. Chef's special Stuffed Gnocchi topped with sliced grilled filet was out of this world, my deepest condolences to everyone who doesn't get to try it, although considering how perfectly the gnocchi, filet, and sauce were prepared, no doubt whatever other rotating specials come and go are bound to also be fantastic. Lobster and Prosecco Gnocchi was outstanding and exquisitely prepared as well. The This is Luce cocktail is good, especially for whisky lovers, a bit of a stronger option, and the red sangria was very nice, with plenty of Triple Sec or Gran Marnier or something citrusy in there to go around. Torta Nocciola and Tentazione di Cioccolate were both very nice options for dessert, not as outstanding as the Ransom Note, Avocado Bruschetta, or Stuffed Gnocchi, but very good. Amazing experience all-around, one of the best restaurants in Hampton Roads!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster and Prosecco Gnocchi
For someone who avoids pasta and such this was a total worthwhile splurge! Chris was so cordial and attentive despite being super busy. And I loved the atmosphere!
I visited January 4 and 30. My overall combined experience was fabulous. The food was delicious, and the bartenders were exceptional. I appreciated the late hours and relaxing atmosphere.The scallops were good on my first visit. Christopher was the bartender that night, and his service was top-notch!My second visit started with the tasty "Ransom Note." Then onto a flight of Scotch... while devouring the lamb. Go with lamb and skip desert!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Make sure you have a reservation!!! We got here right at open and sat at the bar! We started off with an amazing Mushroom Toast! It's a huge appetizer and is super filling and tasty! Afterwards we ordered a glass of wine, we let the server know what pasta we had and he gave us an amazing recommendation! We ordered the chefs special Stuffed Gnocchi! It was amazing!!! So flavorful and the sausage was cooked to perfection! The chocolate ganache cake was sooo soft and good!! My favorite dessert! I recommend this spot!!
Grateful that they were able to accommodate my husband's dietary needs. He's had to have gluten-free, dairy-free diet, and he can't have tomatoes either. They whipped up a special pasta for him with shrimp and mushrooms. It was so good
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing Italian restaurant in downtown Norfolk. The menu is large for such a tiny restaurant, but I highly recommend the pasta. Luce’s pasta is extraordinary and reminds me of Rome. The restaurant is very small, with the floor plan dominated by the bar and only a handful of tables in the restaurant. That’s why you need a reservation about a week in advance.Vegetarian options: Several very good vegetarian pastas featured on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Toast, Wild Boar Ragu
The ambience is fantastic. I found things I loved and things I didn't think I liked that much on the menu. Ask questions, the professional wait staff is top-notch. The drinks are made with care and are spot on. Love the first three appetizers, tomato, lobster, Soto scallops.(left-hand side of the menu) I like to get things that I don't cook at home so I enjoyed the veal chop Milanese. (A lot) Or just try to find a spot at the bar and get a cocktail!
We had an event to go to Friday night so we stopped by Luce before they opened to ensure we got a seat since we didn't make reservations. Before we knew it, there was a line waiting! We were seated at the bar which was comfortable. We were surrounded by "regulars" which is always neat to see people who build relationships with the staff by how often they frequent. As my entree, I got the Pinsa Di Parma and dessert I got Tentazione di Cioccolate. They both were delicious. I kind of regret not getting the bruschetta as an appetizer. I saw someone get it and it looked great! Oh well. Next time.
If I told you I can still taste my dinner there after two week, you wouldn’t believe me. It has to be one of the best meals I have ever had. The creativity of the chef and the flavors is beyond words. First place I am going when I go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veal Saltimbocca, Sautéed Calamari, Bruschetta
Top notched, highly recommended for sure.For starters, the service was wonderful from the time my friends and I came without reservation. The hostess asked the bartender if something could be done to accommodate us; and he did! The bar staff was hands down personable and friendly, the Australian accent definitely brought the added charm! Even Sheila was happy regarding the service.Ambiance was casual trendy with seemingly faithful patrons whose name the bar staff remembers. Small place but packed with lively spirit, and not just those along the bar shelves. Speaking of drinks, one friend of mine enjoyed her red wine from Spain, well it’s St. Patrick’s day so wine tasting was in the offing. My other friend wanted some refreshing cocktail. The bartender prepared a vodka and lime mix with orange twist. She absolutely loved it.The food was absolutely second to none, well maybe only to Luce Secondo, its sister restaurant. I ordered the Tonno and Tomatoes which was wonderfully mouth-pleasing dish with perfectly seared ahi tuna on Parmesan infused polenta accented by sweet and tart ripe cherry tomatoes in a wonderful sauce.Ordered the hazelnut cake with espresso ice cream for dessert. It was the best of 3 desserts we ordered, the other 2 being the limoncello mascarpone cake and the rum infused puff pastry.Was a more than satisfying dinner, will definitely come back to try other dishes (my friends ordered the cioppino and clams and pulpo (grilled octopus) appetizer. They lived their food but I won’t pirate their turn to write their own reviews!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5