Luca in Islington

Luca was great , nice food and nice feeling about it very friendly staff , worth a visit if you are around Farringdon , 10/10

Atmosphere: Not really a restaurant for grown-ups unless you like the bass beat competing with the noisy dining room. Food: Reasonably good, although the artichoke on the vitello tonnato was more like cucumber. In fact, it really didn't seem to be artichoke (just my view - I did eat artichokes pretty steadily for the five years I lived in Italy). Service: Frenetic, confused and sloppy, although well meaning. Overall: Amazed that this restaurant holds the reputation it does. But, again, I think if you've never lived in Italy, don't really know what fine dining is, and don't mind a lot of noise, it's probably pretty satisfying. Prices: Significant.

The best restaurant in London could ever have. But most importantly it's the Manager Stefano who is probably the best at his job, as he just masters the feel of welcoming and the level of professional care you want to see at the restaurant. Grazie, Stefano!

You know when you spend £400 for two people in a restaurant and you end up being like « I’d rather have bought myself something else? » Arrived just on time, no one to greet us at the door apart from an IPad - nice start after a bad Friday at work. Went in to look for a staff member and finally find one who tells us that he will… speak to his colleague. Now waiting in the middle of the bar and standing up until the « colleague » finally arrives to tell us that our table is not ready. « Please sit at the bar » nice, why not getting a drink before dinner, unless no one actually comes to give you a drink. Ok the menu arrives, £16 for a negroni, « Sorry I think we’ll wait and order a bottle of wine at our table ». Someone comes to bring us to our table. Loud, show off, instaspot, far from the nice Italian place we had imagined from the outside. Food comes, the waitress asks if everything is alright straight after putting the plates on the table. My girlfriend cracks a joke « hard to say before tasting the food! » - no reaction aside of a weird look. The food is okay, but not worth the price. I thought the service could turn casual instead of weird when the waitress cracked a joke to me when my girlfriend went to the toilets saying that she left me before paying for the bill, that until she cracked the exact same joke to the guys next to us. Ah yeah final one, I ticked « birthday » as special event when booking a couple of months and despite the 300 waiters no one reacted nor brought anything, which after all my girlfriend was really grateful for (I guess that should count as a positive then?) Would I go back? No.

Wow! We had incredible food during our trip to London but Luca stands out as a shining star. Our server, Tannis, was extremely knowledgable about the menu and very patient with our larger group. The white truffle cacio pepe was absolutely stunning as were the parmesan fries. I would recommend this restaurant a million percent...and don't sleep on the fennel ice cream if it's on the menu when you go!

My wife and I had a lovely evening at Luca on Saturday. The restaurant itself is a stunning space and we had a great table in the centre of the conservatory (as requested). The place was completely full (with 2 private parties happening which sadly meant that the terrace was closed for the evening) but there was a lively busy atmosphere while still being very romantic with candle lit tables. The food was superb. The beef fillet was possibly the best steak I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve eaten at a number of other Michelin starred restaurants). It was cooked medium well but still incredibly soft and tender and served with a delicious garlic sauce. Both pasta dishes were also delicious. The portions were all generous but sadly that meant we had no space for dessert! The service was excellent, our waitress was very engaging and asked all about our anniversary that we’d noted on the booking and we also received a celebratory plate from the kitchen with small cakes to mark the occasion. The sommelier also made an excellent recommendation for the wine. In fairness the bottle he suggested was only £65 which was much less than other potential options on the menu. Three courses each and a bottle of wine came to £330. Some may say that’s expensive but when nearly all Michelin starred restaurants in London serve obligatory tasting menus for at least £175 pp, I don’t think it’s too bad. I’d have no problem recommending Luca and hopefully one day when we’re next in London we may return!

We were made most welcome and had some incredible dishes, polished off with Lucacello! Loved the sourdough and Lucaoil too!

Nice setting and very friendly staff, but the food could’ve been better. Everything was fine, and some things were good, but nothing was really special.

We had made a reservation two months in advance as we were excited to have a special experience on our first night in London. Unfortunately, the experience was less than special. In fact it was extremely disappointing. When booking our reso I indicated it was a special occasion - that didn’t seem to matter much, as no one asked us what the occasion was when we arrived, and we were seated next to the bussing station. As others have mentioned, the service was chaotic and amateur. We waited quite awhile for a menu and then even longer to order a pre dinner drink. Our waiter was not sure of herself and seems to be new. She even bussed my partners cocktail away before he was entirely finished. Kind of a bummer when you’re savoring an expensive drink. The food was fine. Just fine, not amazing. We had much more amazing food the following days, in Paris, at tiny cafes with zero stars. The whole experience was a let down. The only thing that was over the top was the bill! Very expensive for substandard service and mediocre food. Sigh.

We agree with ‘rbears’ review (July 2023). This was our third time at Luca and we were super excited. Unfortunately, we left feeling disappointed and feeling that we would not want to come back. The service felt rushed. But this is not a meal to be rushed and it is not acceptable for diners to feel staff are on over-efficient mode in order to get bums on seats. Service should be relaxed and charming, and it was neither, in stark contrast to our two visits last year. We like to try different wines so ordered by the glass for each course and felt that this was not a welcomed approach. I don’t really care tbh, I can do what I like - I’m paying. But the staff should be as charming when I’m ordering a £16 glass of wine as when I’m ordering a £250 bottle. The food is still good, although the lobster pasta was too salty for me. I make a concession on that point though, because someone else might have found it perfectly seasoned. As such, the two stars are deducted for service. Luca will survive without us patronising it, sure. There are plenty of business diners who will frequent it. But worth checking yourself, guys.

I had made a reservation for a friend whose birthday it was. The friends’ daughter was sent home from school sick the day before the reservation so we had to cancel. The restaurant was adamant that they would charge me £60 even though we cancelled the day before and even though I offered to make another reservation. Rude and arrogant staff member. I will never make a reservation again.

My friend and I sat in the bar area and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and the service, particularly from Danny who was exceptional. We will certainly visit again.

This was my 2nd visit, following the 1st being a business lunch, but sadly it didn’t live upto the high expectations I had. The service for a sat lunch was must slower, staff appeared to be a little more confused, rushing around but lacked giving the guest attention and one comes to expect for a one star. We opted for the full menu and asked the sommelier to pair each course. His pairing choices was spot on, but lacked the knowledge and rushed his explanation for this choice. The pairing for desert was missed completely and arrived after several attempts to catch one of the waiting staff, despite sitting right by one of the waiters stations. The mains of beef and lamb both lacked any seasoning. What a real shame We rate the food a 3.5 but the service and overall experience a 2. We left very disappointed after a £400 lunch. Will need some convincing to return.

Went here recently as was recommended. Was no more than average quality food save for perhaps the dessert which was good. The starter and main were lacking a depth of flavour. Was the the level of food I'd expect at a somewhat dated restaurant trying to be upmarket but not getting it right. Sorry to say. And I've just Googled it and see it's a Michelin star which I find very surprising. Maybe it was deserved once but unless they improve I suspect they'll lose that. Service was friendly if a little slow at times; especially at the beginning and end.

Considering that this is a Michelin Star Restaurant, I was somewhat underwhelmed. The food was acceptable, but not overwhelming, I have eaten better meals in non-Michelin Star Restaurants. Service is good and friendly. As everybody points out, the palce is pricey. I frequent high class Restaurants and am well accustomed to pay £ 200 per person for a meal, which I don't mind for a good meal, but I am not entirely sure that I would come back here.

This is an expensive restaurant, be prepared to spend £125 -150 per head at least with a few glasses of wine included. Most of the food was very good but the Herdwick lamb was very salty, almost inedible. The 2 young lady servers were charming

Absolutely delicious set of dishes. I would like to come back to try more of the menu. Staff very helpful and friendly. 9/10.

Me and my sister had an amazing lunch at Luca, celebrating our birthdays! We had the chef’s menu of 2 antipasto to share, primo, secondo e dolce. It was all amazing, especially bucatini and tiramisu. Very fast and smart service. I absolutely recommend this location....

We booked before it received it's Michelin star, so being half Italian I was curious to see what a 1 Star Italian restaurant might be like. Given that Italian food is at its best is simplicity alongside premium ingredients there's really nowhere to hide. The...

Exceptional food in a superbly renovated old terrace with ceiling to floor glass providing a vibrant atmosphere. The food was perfect and wait staff appropriately attentive the fish was the standout

A Grand Disappointment It's with a heavy heart that I pen this critique of an establishment I held with high hopes. My intention was always to bring up the issues we experienced directly with the owner, but that path was unfortunately obstructed. So, here I...

Excellent fresh pasta as you would expect. I took a gamble on vegetable-filled pasta and was pleased I did, because the barbecuing of the vegetables used to create the filling left them full of flavour. I tried my partner’s ragù with anchovies and mint: this...

Very nice Michelin star Italian style restaurant in the heart of Clerkenwell. Don’t bother with the chef menu. The a La carte offers a great selection of amazing dishes to try. Waiters are a bit stiff and wait for wine list and sommelier was longer...

Don’t choose the chef’s menu. It’s not worth it, very disappointing. You are better off taking a starter and and main. And then you probably don’t have to wait 45 minutes between each course.

Recently visiting the latest additions to the scene in London for lunch. Thai place totally deserved their award, and my first Italian inspired restaurant. The service from the greeting on arrival, through the service whilst dining, was worthy of their new status. As for the...

Where should I start from? Let’s start from positive sides: the restaurant is beautiful, cozy and welcoming, including the outside terrace which is superb. We started with cocktails and they were super good; also the staff at the entrance was friendly. Bad things now, which...

Had an amazing lunch here. We sat in the covered patio area at the back, not too noisy, and had a range of very good staff and wonderful food. Sea bream ceviche was the highlight, as well as the fennel ice cream with the lemon...

We dined at Luca as a family dinner. From start to finish the service was attentive and the food excellent. We throughly enjoyed our meal and wine , we will return soon .

I had been wanting to go to Luca for a while - an Italian restaurant with a Michelin star sounded perfect. Due to a mix up with our booking (totally my fault, not theirs) we had to sit in the bar area. It was fine,...

Great Italian restaurant with very attentive staff, warm decor and ambiance and happiness all around. We had the vegetarian tasting menu - all excellent, but the burrata and the parmesan fries were particularly amazing

We enjoyed 4 cocktails here at the bar before a restaurant reservation and all were delicious, costing about £60 for 4. Service was great. We had other reservations but would have loved to eat her if not!

I don't normally write reviews on here but felt compelled to do so after my most recent lunch on Saturday which couldn't go without a mention as it was one of the best lunches I've had that I can remember. This is a special place...

I ate there today with an old contact. We had the set price lunch and ate at the bar. We were served byKieron who was super friendly and polite. Each time food or drink was served we had it explained. Lovely cup of tea to...

This is an unusual London restaurant with a Piedmont inspired menu. The place has a classy feel with a smart bar where even the ice cubes are stamped with the restaurant logo. The cocktails themselves, especially the Negroni, are 1st class. You can have small...

Visited for my partner's birthday. Chose the chef's menu The wine list is very big and after a quick discussion with the sommelier we settled on a £50 bottle of red. Was as he described. Two courses served after bread. Burrata, pear and hazelnut was...

I was very excited to visit this restaurant. The prices are not outrageous but enough to make you expect something a bit out of the ordinary. Our coats were not taken to be hung up, we ended up with them clumped in a pile next...

I have been a few times now at Luca and it’s just the perfect place for every occasion: dates, friends get-together and colleagues post-work dinner. It’s probably best suited for dates, given the romantic vibes, dimmed light and cosy atmosphere. That’s why I picked it...

The good points first. Beautiful interior, really lovely environment. Amazing cocktails. Especially the Angelico Sour.. just perfect. The Parmesan fries were delicious. Not so good… The lighting was atrocious. There was a downlight right behind my head so bright and so badly positioned that I...

The Guys behind the service team here are real magicians. Stefano makes us feel so welcome every single time, and we keep going back, maybe even too often... The pasta is delicious, and all dishes are equally good, but honestly, the particular part is the...

We were one vegetarian , and all our courses including vegetarian were absolutely delicious. The service was excellent, discrete but attentive, exactly what we expected and was very much appreciated. The buzzy atmosphere was great, we will definitely return.

Having booked to eat at this place having had to give my CC details at the time of booking I called the afternoon of the reservation to cancel due to illness , they told me that this would cost me 30 pounds per person to...

The food is something else no doubt about it , every course was just immaculate and nice to see Vitello Tonnato on a U.K. menu but the wine experience was poor. We are not big wine buffs but can describe what we like , we...

A disappointing visit. We’d heard good things and not all bad. Venue is lovely, the food was good but the service was less than average…felt like all the staff were going through the motions. A little extra effort would have gone a long way and...

Food was OK. Service was a bit less than OK - staff just didn’t seem to care. Quite Expensive. Overall: 6/10.

Second visit and this time for a lovely Saturday lunch; 2 courses with a couple of glasses of wine were brilliant. Service was excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. Burrata amazing, bavette of beer lovely, halibut excellent The sauces, accompaniments, and snacks (Parmesan fries) top notch. Will...

I originally had a booking here for a few weeks before the 1st pandemic arose and so had to cancel so for me this has been somewhere that has been on my visit list for a long time and I wasn't left disappointed. I managed...

Honestly one of the best Italian foods I have ever had. The food was amazing and so was the service. On a side note, I thought the portions were a little small.

Amazing meal made better by seeing main man Richard (Sommelier), we know him from previous restaurants and followed him here. Whatever he recommends to drink will be great quality and suited to what you like. Pleased to now consider him a friend. Luca offers an...

Had a business lunch in this restaurant. Beautiful design and once open air courtyard. Very nice staff and food is amazing

Nice meal and good service by waiting staff and junior sommelier. So why the bad review? We had brought some wines ourselves and we were paying £35 bottle corkage on each- at the top end of acceptable in my view anyway. After the first bottle...

We were celebrating a special occasion with our family in the private dining room, and had a wonderful time. The setting was beautiful, the food was delicious and the service impeccable. A memorable evening. Would thoroughly recommend.

Nice venue and service was really good, however thought the food was massively overpriced (£19 for burrata which wasn't amazing) and I've had much better Ragu pasta elsewhere. Friends portions of food was quite small, great if that's what you like but for the price...

Ho hum, what to say? I have eaten at Luca many times over the years but of late have seen a gradual decline. Booked Saturday lunch as Trullo at Highbury corner was full. Cooking is still good but the front of house leaves a lot...

We had an incredible evening at Luca. Staff was warm and very friendly. Food was absolutely amazing, every single dish was outstanding. Luca is that sort of place where attention to detail is king. Big up Rob, Johnny and Daniel for this incredible spot. Highly...

What a fantastic night! We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and we chose Luca as the menu looked ‘right up our street’ When we arrived we were greeted by the front of house team who immediately made us welcome and guided us to our table....

From the street the restaurant appears quite small, but once you get inside you find it goes a long way back and has a glass extension. The decor is very tasteful, Art Deco with lots of natural wood and glass. The meal was excellent. We...

Four of us went here for my birthday. The bill was £460.00. Positives: my sea bream crudo starter was outstanding; wife's beef tartare was very good. The Conchiglie pasta: goodish. Two wines at around £60.00 each were excellent and were served well. Negatives: I ordered...

We went with a group of friends for lunch and had an outstanding experience. Everything was faultless and I can’t wait to go back!

We had a great first time lunch experience at Luca. We were celebrating two birthdays (total group of 4) and dined in the main dining room on a Saturday. Although the restaurant was busy, with two private functions going on, the service was still very...

This place really is special. The food is outstanding and the wine list particularly well chosen. We ate her last month for the fourth time in the last few years and it was as good as ever. I strongly recommend it!

the food is super, the staff very courteous and the neighborhood quite amazing if you happen to be shopping and want a perfect place to recharge your batteries, this is the spot

First time at Luca, and we just about managed to get a seat up the bar for a mid-week lunch (fantastic to see restaurants busy again). The service was excellent, and we never felt rushed at any point. The food was equally enjoyable. Classic dishes...

Three couples. I had beef dish. Main course - £50. Very small portion. Luke warm. friend's fish was cold. Waiters were attentive but service was slow. With tip, £245 per couple. I'm not going back. Very overpriced. Ironically, my future son-in-law had eaten there recently...

I booked on line for our wedding anniversary a chef menu, supposed to be 7 courses, for 2. I'm been charged immediately on my cc. Ok no problem. We arrived 10 minutes earlier and be seated, tap filtered water £2, I pre-paid for 2 glass...

A strong contender for the most romantic restaurant in London. Beautiful interiors, excellent lighting, delicious food and great service. The menu changes seasonally and always has good vegetarian options. Truly a delight to eat here.

Great restaurant, looks really nice well presented food as expected being a Michelin, price is reasonable for the place considering you are in a high standard restaurant

Utterly fantastic in every sense. The staff were beyond brilliant and the food was fantastic. Can’t wait to go back again and again

Went to this place as a guest with high expectations for a family lunch. Service rather slow , food very average and the prices outrageous. The Michelin status claim is simply not credible.

We sat at a table in the bar which was admittedly a bit of a squash, however the food more than compensated for this. We came for the Parmesan fries and we were not disappointed. Wow! Put these on your food bucket list. We then...

The service was great, really nice crew. However, the menu was pretentious and the dishes insipid. The menu is a trap, no way to order something decent without spending a huge amount of money. Once you realise this, one thinks, well, at least I'll get...

We sat in the front of the restaurant by the bar. Lunch menu had 3 starters and 3 mains. I could have happily eaten any combination of them. My pasta with sausage ragu was beautiful, tasty and just right. My main was ox cheek with...

Went for lunch and chose the chef's set menu. The food was very good. Pasta was great. The service was perfect. They paid attention to every detail. The atmosphere is pleasant.

From the moment we arrived we were made to feel extremely welcome. The friendliness of the staff was beyond that we’ve experienced in other London eateries. We enjoyed the chef’s tasting menu - so much food and all of it beautifully presented and delicious. Thank...

Okay Luca is not the cheapest restaurant to visit and several couples were there celebrating events so for many including us it is not every day dining. At £270 for 2 it is one of 3 restaurants I have been to in the last few...

What a wonderful place! We sat at the bar to enjoy a cocktail before our early evening dinner. The bartender was personal, warm and engaging, and the cocktails delicious, setting a lovely tone for the evening. The decor is beautiful in every part of the...

I was treated to a meal at Luca for my 30th birthday - it did not let me down! The service, atmosphere, and food were all incredible. We started with some the incredible Parmesan Fries (unmissable) and cocktails in the bar area, and then had...

8 days before my wife’s 52 birthday, and a long planned special dinner, the restaurant writes to say “sorry, we’ve decided to close Tuesdays so we’re cancelling your booking. Hope to see you some other time.” Not likely.

Very good food and super helpful staff. But… we ordered a taster menu but got table D’hote instead! Although the food was fine we were charged exhorbitant prices for indifferent wines (thankfully in meagre portions)

Can’t believe I’ve never been here before! The restaurant is beautiful with floor to ceiling windows and ceiling sky lights. Really lovely tables and the staff are fabulous. The food is to die for, I wanted everything. We settled on a sharing starter of Parmesan...

We visited Luca in September and it didn’t disappoint the food was outstanding, service exceptional. It is too if our list when next back in London the parmesan fries and lemon tart are a must! Thanks again.

We decided to give that restaurant a try because its close where one lives. We were really surprised when we passed the bar area and saw the far bigger restaurant in the back. once seated we started lunch with some Pierre Paillard champagne followed by...

Top Marks, great find and will be back Loved this place, great decor and atmosphere for a Saturday lunchtime. We sat at the bar, great service, food was Devine, throughly recommend the Parmesan fries, Burrata, Hallibut, Scallops and the fresh pasta was to die for....

We decided to give the Luca at Home tasting menu (vegetarian) a go. Wish we hadn’t . Not helped by our window for delivery of 7-8pm becoming nearer to 9 (8.52 for pedants). We were almost past hunger but as the food came in a...

Was particularly impressed with the starters and mains - the scallops and halibut were the highlight. Pastas were good, but nowhere near as good as bancone or padella. Service was friendly and attentive and loved the ambiance

REPOSTING THIS AGAIN AS THEY HAD MY REVIEW REMOVED. GOODNESS KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER REVIEWS THEY HAVE HAD REMOVED. I HAVE THE EMAILS FROM ISLINGTON COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGING THE RAT PROBLEM. THEY ALSO HAVE A 3 STAR FOOD STANDARDS RATING, SO YOU CAN CHECK THIS YOURSELF:...

To start with, the venue is beautiful with a sense of space and airiness. The staff are polite and the service decent but the entire experience was simply under whelming. Although there was the odd spark of hope in a dish or two, the food...

This restaurant is using chefs for free labour. For those that are not aware a chef looking for work will go in for a trial shift. This would usually be for 7 hours max. Most times you’re let go before an end of shift as...

My boyfriend and I visited Luca and ate in the bar area. It’s a beautiful place and has a great atmosphere. The food is amazing but yes, it’s on the pricey side and the portions are slightly on the small side. But you don’t come...

Seated a big group of us at a busy time of night, service very good, food excellent. Particularly impressed with timing of delivery of food which, for a big group, is not easy. I had mushroom risotto + lamb with tomato and aubergine. Everything spot...

Went to Luca on the first night it reopened after lockdown. They made everything feel safe without making it fussy or scary. The service was as good as ever and all staff in masks. As you would expect from this great restaurant the food was...

Luca at home was outstanding, fantastic birthday treat for my wife. Mentioned it was her birthday and they included a beautiful card and complimentary cocktail which was a very nice touch.

Luca is a great restaurant. I had the trout and it was delicious. Be careful on the wine though as the natural white we had was patchy at best. Service is very friendly.

Luca pitches itself as “British seasonal ingredients through an Italian lens” – and that is exactly my take on it (before I saw the tag line on the website after my visit). Low-key, understated retro décor, the vibe is cool, but not naff-fashionable, excellent food....

I had a business lunch at Luca 30th January. It was outstanding! The bread to start with was the best I have ever had anywhere in any restaurant worldwide. We had Hebridean Lamb. Unbelievably excellent! The meal was a triumph and the best lamb I...

A lovely feel as you walk and sit down , after that it was downhill all the way , food was seriously disappointing and frankly a bit of joke given the prices being charged .

Loved this place .... everything about the styling and the quality of the food and service was five star! Can’t recommend highly enough.

My dougther book for five. We had a lovely experience. I enjoyed with my selection, good taste and nice presentation. Thanks to all staff.

We came for dinner one Saturday evening and had a very pleasant meal. Service was attentive without being intrusive, if a little slow at times. Food was excellent. Busy, informal vibe.

Fantastic evening - great food, fine wine & great service. Was my wife’s 60th Birthday and they sure looked after our large table well.

I will start by saying that my friend chose this restaurant since she had heard good things about it. We went for lunch on 11th December and, towards the end of the lunch service, the restaurant was about half full. Upon arrival, the Maitre D...