TuscanHouse favorite restaurants in Lucca area

This list is our personal recommendation for eating well, 2011 update.

During the summer season call at least one day in advance for dinner (cena) reservations (pre-notazione). Without a reservation, you may get a table for dinner if you arrive after 9:00 PM, restaurants only have one reserved seating. If you go by the restaurant before it opens for lunch (pranzo), you can reserve a table. The kitchen is typically open for lunch: 12:30 - 2:00 PM, for dinner: 7:30 - 9:30 PM, later on weekends. The restaurants where you should make a reservation are noted with *

Pizza is served at dinner only. House wine is always good. No smoking inside, but usually okay at outside tables. Many smaller restaurants don't take credit cards so bring enough cash.     Buon appetito!

  $ = inexpensive, $$ = medium, $$$ = expensive

  Lucca, center, inside the walled city:

Buca di Sant’Antonio, the oldest restaurant in the city, with professional service, excellent food and wine, cozy interior with copper pots hanging from the ceiling, lots of old world charm. Extensive daily menu of seasonal local specialties, both surf and turf. We think this is by far the best restaurant in Lucca and a must for any lover of fine dining. Closed Sunday evenings and Mondays, closed for vacation in July. Locate at Via Della Cervia 3, west of Piazza San Michele. Tel: 0583-55-881, www.bucadisantantonio.it  ($$$)*

Puccini, is another good restaurant in the city cente. Local and international cuisine, professional service, good vine list. Décor is classy and colorful with Puccini opera posters. Closed for lunch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, closed for vacation in Jan/Feb. Corte San Lorenzo 1, one block from Piazza San Michele/ Via San Paolino. Tel: 0583 316676, Cell: 338 9805927. www.ristorantepuccini.it   ($$$)*

Gli Orti di Via Elisa, excellent casual restaurant with extensive menu, especially good pizzas, pastas and meats, also vegetarian dishes, very popular with Luccans, reservation needed. Open for dinner only, no lunch. East end of town, Via Elisa, 17. Tel. 0583-491-241, www.ristorantegliorti.it   ($$)*

Da Giulio, large trattoria with good food, great family restaurant, moderate prices, fast service. Lots of menu items, all the local specialties. Select several antipasto items to share. Big dining room with a good buzz, well spaced out tables Open for dinner only, no lunch, closed on Sundays. North end of town, Via delle Conce 45, Piazza San Donato. Tel: 0583-55-948. ($)

Vecchia Trattoria Buralli, traditional trattoria with good Luccan food and it's a local favorite to enjoy home style meals. Lots of choices on the menu, daily lunch specials, friendly service. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Center of town, Piazza S. Agostino 10, near the Amphitheatre. Piazza San Donato. Tel: 0583-950-611.  ($)

 Locanda di Bacco, is said to be the most authentic and the best Lucchese restaurant in the city, but we have yet to try it. Located center just north of Piazza San Michele, Tel:  0583 493136, Via San Giorgio 36, 55100 Lucca www.ristorantelocandadibacco.com ($$)

 South of Lucca:

Gazebo, restaurant at the deluxe small hotel Locanda l’Elisa. Perfect for special, intimate dinners with excellent food and vine. Closed on Sundays. Via Nuova per Pisa 1952, along the old Pisa road, about 6 km south from Lucca. Tel: 0583-379-737, fax: 0583-379-019, e-mail: locanda.elise@lunet.it  ($$$)

Ristorante La Cecca, some of the best food in Lucca area, professional restaurant, large covered outdoor seating area, very nice atmosphere, big groups okay. Closed Mondays. Tortelli with ragu and the lamb chops were wonderful. About 8 km south of Lucca along the old Pisa road, follow the signs left. Tel: 0583-94-284, www.lacecca.it  ($$)

Osteria di Meati, authentic home-style cooking, family Osteria with a large outdoor area in the back. Delicious local food grown in the area, and moderate prices. Still unknown by the masses with only few  write-ups, so let’s keep this our secret! Closed Mondays. Just 2 km south of the Autostrada, near village of Meati, at a crossroads, Via della Chiesa 1237. Tel: 0583-510-373. ($)

Antica Trattoria Stefani,  excellent cooking, large restaurant, they can handle big groups. We had fresh fish for lunch recently, very good. About 10 km south of Lucca along the old Pisa road, signs on the left. Closed Tue. & Wed. Tel: 0583-379-031, www.trattoriastefani.com ($$)

 North of Lucca:

Ristorante Erasmo, an old Locanda along the river since 1760, great trattoria food with all the Lucchese specials. Try the fried chicken and rabbit. Inside dining with fireplace, across the road is a large, park-like garden for dining out, a delightful place during the summer under the canopy of big trees. Parking behind the restaurant. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. About 7 km north of the city on the main road at Ponte a Moriano. Via Nazionale 1782, 55100, Ponte a Moriano. Tel. 0583 406362, or 0583 578673  www.ristoranteerasmo.it

Osteria - Trattoria il Botteghino, this is the real thing, the typical working man's lunch place, and as down to earth as it gets around sophisticated Lucca. Excellent home-style pasta, soup, vegetables, grilled meats. This Osteria is a road side stop with a deli counter up front, small caffe bar, dining room in the back and covered outdoor dining on the side. Only daily specials, whatever the cook decided that day, about 4 items to choose for each course. Lunch menu only about 15 Euros per person for 2 courses plus wine and water. Closed on Tuesdays. Via per Matraia 1505, San Pancrazio, Lucca. About 8 km north of the city, in the area of  the famous villas.  0583-406-406 ($)

Ristorante a Palazzo, good country food served up on the mountain with great views towards Lucca. Large outside seating, nice and cool in the summer, big rustic interior dining room. The drive up has many tight curves and parking can be difficult along the road. Closed on Wednesdays. S. Giusto di Brancoli, up 10 km along the Sergio River from Lucca, then few km up the mountain road. Tel: 0583-965-341. ($$)

La Mora, the famous Michelin starred restaurant is now unfortunately closed.

Antica Locanda di Sesto, is very highly rated but not yet tried by us.  Located in Sesto di Moriano, just north of the bridge, in Via Ludovica 1660, 55100 Lucca, Tel: 0583 578181 www.anticalocandadisesto.it ($$$)

West of Lucca:

Vigna Ilaria, excellent restaurant serving seafood and meat specials. Colorful modern interior, outside dining in the garden. Try the seafood antipasto and the daily fresh fish. Closed on Mondays. Via Pieve S. Stefano 967. From Lucca, turn left after the bridge and follow signs towards Pieve S. Stefano, about 3 km from the bridge. Tel: 0583-332-091, fax: 0583-331-908. www.locandavignailaria.it   ($$)

Ristorante Vipore, excellent country restaurant serving large portions of everything Luccan. Price have gone up recently, getting famous? Pleasant atmosphere, friendly service, best views from inside tables by the windows. Closed on Mondays. From Lucca, turn left after the bridge and follow signs to Pieve S. Stefano, about 6 km from the bridge up to the hill. Via Pieve S. Stefano 4469. Tel: 0583-394065. ($$)

Ristorante Bar Le Meraviglie, good country food at a pleasant restaurant. Closed on Wed, and no lunch on Thu. Located 18 km west of Lucca on the main road to Camaiore along the Freddana river, at the village of Montemagno, address: Via Provinciale, 13, Montemagno 55041, Camaiore. Tel: 0584.951750, ($$)

Ristorante Da Franco, next door to Le Meraviglia, also very good. Try the big antipasto misto. Closed on Mondays. Located 18 km west of Lucca along the main road to Camaiore, at Via Provinciale 18. Tel: 0584-951-028. ($$)

Enoteca Marcucci, in the sculpture-town of Pietrasanta. The Enoteca is an excellent restaurant on the main street across from the Albergo Pietrasanta. Address is Via Garibaldi 40. Tel: 0584 791 962. Closed Mondays. Delicious food in most pleasant setting, good buzz, service and atmosphere. The immense selection of quality wines makes this the winelovers heaven. www.enotecamarcucci.it  ($$$)

Villa Bongi, newly re-opened restaurant we hear good things about, waiting to try, and please let us know if you have:   www.villabongi.it