Inside: Lucé Café

Photos:

Lucé Café will remind anyone who has traveled to Europe of a classy, romantic Italian restaurant in the heart of Tuscany. It’s the perfect place for first dates, important business meetings, family gatherings or relaxing evenings with your closest friends.

Enjoy the highest quality of pastas, pizzas, bistro favorites and amazing wine in an atmosphere that is warm, beautiful and trendy. A creative, gourmet menu caters to distinguished palettes, but even those with simpler tastes will find familiar favorites. The café occasionally features live music, so be sure to browse the schedule listed on the restaurant’s Web site.

Food: The menu is inspired by traditional and contemporary Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Tapas can be shared or combined into a meal, and the salads are delicious either as a precursor to your dinner or by themselves at lunchtime.

Whether you love seafood, steak or even vegetarian meals, you won’t be disappointed by the selection of mouth-watering, gourmet entrees. We particularly enjoy the beet & pear salad, the olive sampling plate and the lasagna. The most popular plate is the crab cakes with yellow tomato and sweet chile sauce. The chef personally recommends the pistachio-crusted pork medallions with apple cider glaze and sweet potato risotto.

Libations: Like any respectable Italian establishment, Lucé Café is famous for its extensive wine list. There are “old world” wines for those who wish to enjoy a drier, crisper drink with their food, as well as “new world” wines (fruity and creamy), which are meant to be savored alone.

Any other type of wine that exists in the world will be on this menu. Even the most informed connoisseur will be extremely impressed with the long, varied list of options. You can also ask for vintages here or even take a case of your favorite wine home.

Décor: The lighting is dim and soothing, the seats are plush and luxurious, and a warm fire crackles in the main dining room. You can choose to sit at tables, booths, the bar or the patio. There are even a few elegant, roomy couches and armchairs for those patrons who just want to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

This is a very large restaurant, so it can easily accommodate families, groups and parties. Rooms are cleverly and decoratively sectioned to provide privacy. This is a very romantic, upscale place in the evening, but it’s a bit more casual during lunch hours.

Crowd: Afternoons are generally quiet with a few lunch customers who prefer to sit on the patio if the weather is cooperative. In the evenings, the dining area becomes busier, but there is still plenty of room for everyone to sit and eat comfortably. It is recommended that you make reservations on the weekends to receive priority seating.

Service: The servers at Lucé are friendly and helpful. If you aren’t sure about the ingredients in a meal, they will gladly assist you or ask the chef. This is one of the better places in Columbus for people with food allergies or special dietary needs.

Add a comment