Lucia

This food is nothing like real Italian food. i'd rather stay at home and order my local neighborhood pizza/pasta joints version of Italian rather than spend the money on Lucia again. I will not be back

Posted 05/17/09

I've had multiple meals at Lucia's now and have been well satisfied every experience. I was always greeted with friendly and speedy service. On top of the very reasonable pricing for their food, the food itself is very well done. Their bruschetta is amazing for an appetizer. They have a salmon dish for an entree that was cooked to perfection. Flaky, juicy and perfectly seasoned. Their fruit tart is incredibly generously portioned with plenty of fresh berries served piping hot from the kitchen. During your wait for your food, you can sit back and enjoy their delicious foccocia bread serviced with a basalmic vinegar dipping sauce, and sit back and often enjoy a black and white film they play on one of their walls.

I would HIGHLY recommend Lucia's to anybody, and would encourage people to take advantage of when Lucia's partakes in the Urban Eats special running where there is a full 3 course meal for just $30! I have been very satisfied with every experience I have had at Lucia's and they will continue to have me and my family's business for years to come. Keep up the good work Lucia's!

Pros: Food, Prices, Service, Decor

Cons: Couldn't find one

Posted 03/10/09

I live in Seattle but anytime anyone says they want to eat at Lucia's I am always up for the commute. I always look forward to dinner or just drinks there. The food is amazingly delicious and I can sometimes be a picky eater but the kitchen is always willing to add or substitute to my needs. I have never had a bad meal here, the food always comes out hot, smelling, and tasting delicious! I love their pizza's, and pasta, and chicken, and salads! There is this bread and sauce which they bring out before every meal which gets devoured along with requests for more, that sometimes I have to make sure I don't fill up before my meal has even ordered. I recommend anyone and everyone to come check this place out. On Wednesday's they have live music, which is always a good opportunity midweek to take a break, relax, and enjoy a nice glass of vino. I tell everyone I know to come here whether they live on the eastside or in Seattle b/c it's worth the commute, food, service, and great environment for an evening or two.

Pros: FOOD, SERVICE, STAFF, ENVIRONMENT

Cons: NONE

Posted 03/10/09

Sad, sad representation of Italian food. I had the cannelloni, my girlfriend had the eggplant Parmesan. The cannelloni tasted like the chicken had been simmered in chicken fat, with that metallic, slimy after taste. Nasty! The eggplant was at best, tasteless. At least that is what my girlfriend said. I unfortunately tasted it and it resembled something like a canned tomato stewed stale eggplant breaded 2 weeks ago.
All of this might be forgivable, maybe. But since my table was placed 2 feet if that from the entrance to the kitchen, I was forced to listen to the old woman i presume is the new owner yelling at everyone who was near her. Even if I wanted to pretend I was having a good time she was so rude and mean there was no avoiding her overtaking or conversation. The adjective for female dog is applied here not loosely. She alone would have ruined our meal.
This place was much better 2 years ago! I will not be patronizing the "new" Lucia again any time soon.

Pros: downtown kirkland

Cons: bad food, bad ambiance, loud, obnoxious

Posted 11/20/08

Lucia was a GREAT place before its transformation to "hip". Be aware of the crowd, since it can be too noisy to even carry out a conversation while dining.
I took my wife to be to our VERY first lunch at "Mama Lucia's" back in 1999. It was then a great place, and continued to be so until the recent remodel/expansion. Earlier it was a great "hole in the wall", with great pasta and good wines, but now it feel more like any chain restaurant (even though it isn't). All said, if you can get a table at the patio, it'd still be worth it, even if the view might not be the best, but location is still great with walking distance to "everything".

Pros: Location, pasta

Cons: Can be far too noisy

Posted 10/06/08

We ate here last night and I thought the food was very good. My husband had the lemon chicken and I will admit it was a bit salty but still good. I had the chicken parm and it was very good. I tend to be picky when it comes to chicken parm and was pleasantly surprised with there's. We both agreed the new look was nice but a bit retro for a down home Italian spot in a strip mall on the eastside but the ambiance inside was nice and there bar looks like it would be a great place to hang out. All in all we enjoyed our meal and will definitely go back.

Pros: good food and friendly service

Cons: hard to find parlking

Posted 08/30/08

This is a great little restaurant in Kirkland - very good pasta dishes, a pizza on the side or as an appetizer. Great salads. Fun nightlife starts to happen later in the evening. It's a very fun, vibrant restaurant - much like you'd expect to see on vacation in New York and LA. Fun but great food as well...The A+ distinction here: price. Great prices. The bar is fantastic. Super fun on Wednesday nights especially. Packed.

We'll be back for sure - as regulars...

Pros: Food, Value, nightlife, fun bar, wine

Cons: its in a 'strip mall' but you don't feel like it when you're there...

Posted 08/17/08

First off its called Lucia now. Citysearch needs to change the name From Mama Lucia's Kitchen to just Lucia. Bonnie and I know the owner Michael very well. He absolutely treats us like royalty. As for the kitchen goes I don't know what that other review was about. This place is awesome. We have had everything from the pizza(fabulous), the salads, to the outstanding Kobe beef burger. This place is so classy and the food is on the top of my list. They have a great upstairs bar for parties and gatherings. Oh and I almost forgot the best part the wine......some very different wines, Michael knows what he is doing and you better call ahead because its always busy and there is a reason for that, great food, great atmosphere and an owner with allot of class. Thanks for the great service and making us feel like were at home when were there! Chris and Bonnie....

Pros: Ambience is the best in Kirkland and the food is fabulous

Cons: The only bad thing is if you don't go there to eat and drink, cuz its fun!

Posted 04/30/08

I say this because it is located right next to the kitchen where the wait staff dumps dirty dishes in to a plastic bin (crash, thud), the entrance to the bathroom and the computerized pay station where the wait staff also gathers and is rewarded with a loud beep each time they successfully swipe their card!

Since Lucia reinvented itself from the reliable red checked table cloth local favorite where the food was always great and the atmosphere unpretentious I have been 4 times. (3 of which seated unluckily at the above referenced table!) The new Lucia style a wanna be hip wear black dot com standard complete with white slab marble tabletops which are always cold to the touch, low lighting mostly black decor and wait staff dressed in, you guessed it, all black.

The service is always average, entree arrives at mid salad, appetizer forgotten entirely, my plate removed before my guest has finished eating; average service experience. The menu can?t seem to find its groove, offering some traditional Italian fare, but also crab cakes with an Asian flair. Except that the Chop Salad is mostly a huge pile of romaine lettuce with a few garbanzo beans, a handful of cubed chicken and no salami! What?! Where am I?!

The house Chianti and Sangiovase is clearly a $5.00 bottle of wine but reasonably priced for cheap wine at $6.50 a glass. The saving grace, the pizza is pretty darn good even though the sausage is again cubed.
The location saves this place, if the old Mama Lucia?s and the new kid on the block could meet in the middle I would go back, provided I can be seated at a different table.

Pros: Near the movie theatre and other full restaraunts

Cons: It's always cold!

Posted 03/28/08

Yesterday was the first time that we went to Lucia. Reading the reviews I did not know what to expect since they were mixed but must say that I was impressed. We had a very friendly waitress who was knowledgable about the food and able to make recommendations. We had bruscetta as a starter and then Tagliatelle with Shrimps and the Chicken Milanese. The food was freshly prepared with very tasty ingredients. Everything was cooked right and came very hot. We had sufficient time between the courses to enjoy the wine and conversation (what is it about people wanting to be in an out of a restaurant in an hour?).
I would definitely recommend this as a true Italian restaurant - it felt very European and a nice change to all the family style restaurants with portions no one can finish.

Pros: Ambience, Food

Cons: Maybe I'm old fashion but I like table cloth

Posted 02/16/08

We had eaten at Mama Lucia's a few times before the remodel. We liked the atmosphere (kid friendly) but I didn't like the food. Being Italian, I thought the food was just okay. Last night we decided to eat there for my husband's birthday and was SHOCKED to see the changes. We decided to eat there anyways and complained about how 'fancy' the place got. However, the food came quickly and was WAY better than before. The fries were light and crispy. The bolagnese sauce was delicious and the calzone was great! We will definitely go back again but w/o the kids. Conclusion: sad to see the old family style decor gone, happy to have some good Italian food!

Posted 01/29/08

Personally- these other people are crazy!! This place is perfect whether your on a date, or with your friends- it has a great atmosphere and great service! The prices for the quality of food they have are very cheap!! Great food, great wine - You have to try it!!!

Pros: Great food, wonderful dining experience!!

Cons: Nadda!!

Posted 01/28/08

My wife and I ate at Lucia's this evening. Having eaten at Mama Lucia's in the past we were encouraged from the website to see what the new restaurant and menu offered. Sadly we were massively disappointed. After getting a table against a wall and set far too close to the tables around it, we had to ask for someone to find our waiter 15 minutes later. My wife's Tuna Tartare starter was bland and served with 4 pieces of unseasoned toast -- also with no oil or butter. For her main, my wife ordered the Pasta Angelina which she described as slightly overcooked and nothing special. My Braised Kobe Beef with Pappardelle was excellent, though the menu describes it as "Kobe strips, red peppers, mushrooms. red wine sauce". The beef wasn't strips, more like a fine mince of beef, as were the mushrooms and peppers. For dessert, we ordered the Creme Brulee. I'd never seen a Creme Brulee with a slightly sunken center and hard edges before. The caramelized sugar was soft and one bite let my wife to describe it as "Horrible!". I couldn't agree more. It was clearly overcooked, with a texture more like a cheesecake and certainly not made to order. We sent it back. Overall, the service was mediocre, the food overpriced and not all that good, and the general feel noisy overcrowded with barely a few inches between tables. Not a place we'll be returning to.

Cons: pricey, food, noise

Posted 01/23/08

I am also horribly dissatisfied with the changes to my once beloved eatery. The interior renovations did add needed seating, but on my mid-January visit, it seemed there weren't enough customers to half fill the old space. I suspect the few other customers were remnants of the old clientele, not new hipsters restaurant is so desperately trying to appeal to. The interior looks like a modernist chic from a decade ago, it is a boring black and white and grey. The stark unflattering interior is well complimented with the freezing temperature of the dining room. The food has lost its appeal, the fancy touch of cooked vegetables do not over come the under cooked noodles and small portions. The pizza is greasy and the sauce is little more than a can of pureed tomatoes. The service is equally abysmal and oblivious to their glaring failures, the table next to me ended up passing around their own plates, drinks went unfilled, but it did appear the staff had very good social chat at the hostess booth.
I will be surprised if they are in business next year, they wasted money on the remodel, and drove away their customers.

Cons: expensive, unfriendly

Posted 01/21/08

I am really amazed at the negative reaction that Lucia has been receiving. I have been a long time customer and have visited the new Lucia a few times since the the reopening and I absolutely love it! (Maybe it is because I am willing to spend a few extra dollars for a MUCH nicer dinner.) The food is wonderful and the service has been excellent. From waitstaff to bartender the service is great. As with any new restaurant there are always a few kinks to work out but I have full confidence that the line out the front door will only continue to get longer. Don't let these naysayers deter you from a great dining experience. Yes, a few things have changed but I think it is exactly what Kirkland needs. From a cozy fireplace to a intimate loft there is a place for everyone. I am so happy I no longer have to drive to Seattle to experience fine dining and a great night out.

Pros: Great food and atmosphere. Great bar

Cons: None

Posted 12/19/07

I used to go to Mama Lucia's all the time. It was my favorite Italian restaurant. The bread and olive oil was fantastic, caesar salad was the best on the East side...service was great. I visited the newly remodeled restaurant last Saturday night and the food was practically cold when it arrived, the new foccacia bread was not tasty, the service was less than satisfactory. This restaurant use to have so much charm, the food was great and the service. Things have changed...and the prices have increased! How sad ~

Pros: Close to house

Cons: Not worth the money....

Posted 12/02/07

Anyone who enjoyed Mama Lucia's (now re-named "Lucia") prior to this Fall's remodel is in for a shock. Gone is the cozy, intimate dining room, and in its place is an larger, ultra-modern dungeon. It's dark, and it has a very cold feel. The dinner menu is basically the same, only more expensive, and it does not match up well with the new modern surroundings. Service was just fine, and the food was tasty, but we won't be going back. The new ambiance made the food totally unappealing. Not to mention the bigger price tag. We can get better Italian in Kirkland for less.

Pros: Same menu

Cons: Remodel is horrible

Posted 11/28/07

After waiting over two months for the "remodel" we went to Lucia's tonight. We have been regulars for the past ten years. We will NOT be returning. The menu has been reduced - for some reason. It has been increased, substantially, in price. They have also eliminated bread/olive oil and starter salads (while increasing the prices). Wine prices have increased 30 - 40%. Our food - Calzone and Lemon Chicken Pasta was delivered lukewarm. That is not why we returned both of them. It was quality and taste. My friend ordered something else - I did not (I lost my appetite), however, I was charged for mine. I complained and the waitress finally came back in a huff and said they took it off the bill. They probably spent a lot on the remodel. Now the accoustics are so bad - one has to yell to be heard, or hear one's self. It is really unfriendly. I will say, though, that they accomplished a very upscale/yuppy atmosphere that exemplifies the NEW KIRKLAND - expensive and fake.
As I said, we will NOT return and I am really sad, because the old Mama Lucia's was so wonderful.

Pros: walking distance to home

Cons: price, food, noise - pretty much everything(opposite to Mama Lucia's)

Posted 11/20/07

We went here last night and I was careful to explain to the server that I have a dairy allergy and could she recommend dishes that would be good for me. She recommended chicken marsala and the bruscetta for apps. The bruscetta came covered in cheese (a first for me), and the chicken marsala was also covered in cheese with a cream sauce on top. When i asked for a replacement I was told that everything had dairy in it including the salad dressings. The staff was rude and unaccomodating - it's a good thing I liked the martinis, otherwise I would have walked.

Posted 04/26/07

I love pasta and they have a lot of different choices to offer and variety. Good for the meat, seafood and veggie lover.

Pros: Good food, friendly wait staff

Cons: Very tight seating

Posted 10/04/06

nice atmosphere, boring food, slow service. nothing special. It's relatively pricey for what you get. You'd be better of making spaghetti at home.

Posted 09/28/06

A few years ago we started going to Mama Lucia's the food was always average, but it's close and quiet most of the time (well it's quiet enough for a couple to actually talk).

We went tonight and it will probably be the last time, the server did a good job but hooked us for a 20% tip because we had a party of 6 (2 kids come on!). I don't mind giving a great tip... and I would prefer to actually pay more for good food and service than have that pop up on the bill at the end of a average meal.

There is always restaurant paradiso and Cucina Cucina which are just as close for the next time my wife and I want to go out.

Pros: close, not too spendy

Cons: skitzy service, odd menu

Posted 05/01/06

This is a great restaurant to try if you're tired of Olive Garden and the like. My wife and I go here about once a month and have never had less than good service. I took my extended family here last night and they thought the food was a little bland. I agreed, though this was a first for me. Usually the food is very good. They make their own fresh pasta, and you can tell. From the taste to the texture, it's top notch. I'm particularly fond of the Chicken Alfredo.

Pros: Good food, Never a long wait, Friendly staff

Cons: Lighting is a bit dim

Posted 03/05/06

I am a Chinese and all the Italian food I had is Olive Garden. However I am getting sick of it although they also offer good food. Mana Lucia is the first Itanlian I tried besides Olive Garden. Food is good, service is good, price is not bad. The only problem is the table is too small..I even feel the menu is bigger than the table! I would suggest it is a good place to get a penini as a lunch take out or have something to eat after watching a movie.

Posted 10/17/05

This restaurant in one of our favorites! The food is great (try the chicken parm or angel hair chicken limone). For desert, the tiramisu is SO good! Never had a problem with service. Great atmosphere!

Posted 08/24/05

Despite calling early in the day to make a reservation, when we got there they had no record of it.
They didn't bring bread out until late in our meal & forgot to bring out our salads until we asked when our entrees arrived - though a pile of lettuce drowned in dressing isn't really a "salad".
The bruschetta was disappointing, as was the spaghetti with meatballs. The lasagne was OK.
They don't cater well to young children - no children's cups or desserts, and they brought out our daughter's cheese rotini steaming hot.
I'd avoid the bar - the mixed drinks were poorly made. I should've sent back my rum & coke, but didn't.
Despite seeming having plenty of staff this Friday night, service was slow, inattentive and not particularly friendly - I had to fetch myself a bread plate from another table and had to ask for cutlery.

Pros: Inexpensive, Takes passport card

Cons: Service

Posted 08/06/05

The service at Mama's is always top-notch. You will be waited upon promply and politely. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, yet very casual. Feel free to wear a fleece pullover with shorts while slicing through those meatballs. Chicken Parmesean and chicken canelloni are awesome. Lemon chick linguine is a nice low cal dish. Good wine and beer selection.

Pros: Location, Service, Food

Posted 09/18/04

It was Friday night the rain was beating against windsheild as hard as my hunger against my stomach, when I noticed a cute restaurant in the Kirkland Park Place Mall. How long has this little jewl been in my back yard, how come I've never noticed this little restaurant? As I approach the hostess I realize the quaintness of the space. Cute windows with planter boxes, cool photography on the walls and everyone working smiling at me. After a ten minute wait with my wine glass in hand. me and my dinner guest are seated. The menu consist of easy to pronounce entrees and decadent desserts. The Chicken Canneloni is not to missed along with the Chop Salad. Desserts I recommend are the Chocolate decadence, Chocolate Souffle and this one is not on the menu a shot of espresso on vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Pros: inexpensive, good parking, friendly

Cons: , none

Posted 03/09/04