Showed up at 9:56pm thinking kitchen closed at 11pm but discovered it was 10pm. Staff was falling over themselves trying to let us know it would be their pleasure, it was no problem, and they'd be happy to help. I had baked Ziti, wife had small pizza...both DELICIOUS!! Food came out fast and hot, service was awesome, waitress came over within 3 bites for us both and made sure everything was perfect. Manager, Tony, came by, sat down, made sure we were happy and everything was perfect. If we lived in Bloomington, this would be our new hangout. GREAT JOB, LUCCA GRILL!! WE'LL BE BACK!!
(5)
Brittany M.
A la Baldini pizza is where it's at! Thin, crispy pizza crust. Perfect blend of toppings, sauce and cheese. Whole peppers on top are also a nice tangy touch. The fried ravioli is also amazing. Great crunchy outside and nice meaty filling. Also a decent portion for an appetizer. Could feed about 4 people. Yum!
(4)
Will G.
THE place in BloNo for pizza. Traditional wafer-thin crust pizza (and a variety of other Italian-American dishes). Great atmosphere. Reminiscent of an old corner bar in the big city. Professional staff.
(5)
Mick B.
Lucca's friendly servers gave us just the right amount of attention that we wanted. It looks like they have a great selection of beers on tap although I was in the mood the night we visited for an "old standby". As others mentioned, the crust is quite thin, but I wanted to mention that it had a delicious and delicate buttery taste. I feel that there is room in the pizza world for some crust diversity, and I enjoyed Lucca's change of pace crust. I also agree with the previous comment that the pizza we ordered was quite light on toppings except that the "half" we ordered with sausage had the amount that we expected. I felt it was a fun experience in what appears to be a hockey/sports theme bar in the arts area of downtown Bloomington. If I lived closer, I'd probably be a regular.
(4)
J O.
Why only two stars when I actually love this pizza? Service. I've been eating this pizza two or three times a year for 20 years and the last couple years I have to prepare myself ahead of time for the attitudes. Tonight we were treated like an inconvenience. The owner was most especially rude (per usual as we aren't regulars or known). We had to go to the bar to get our own drink refills. The waitress only checked on us once and it was blatantly obvious she was pushing us to leave. She was in such a huge hurry to clear or table she actually HIT a small child on the head with the pizza pan after removing it from our table. She apologized to the child but, maybe if she had some help it would not have happened. Not a single employee had a smile on their face, not one. I still LOVE the pizza though. I just wish they would treat people like they're happy to see them!
(2)
Marci J.
Sausage and peppers fettuccine was outstanding. Stayed at Hampton Inn and followed their recommendation.
(5)
Sara B.
Stopped for pizza on our way home. Called ahead and ordered a pie...Was hot and ready when we got there. Pros: Cold beer and hot pizza Cons: The pizza is paper thin and when we left we were still hungry
(3)
Daniel J.
This is such a cool little restaurant, started almost 100 years ago now. The decor in this place is really cool I'm going to post some photos of the ceiling, not to mention the food is pretty banging too! I had a grilled chicken Caesar salad for lunch there and I have never seen croutons so big, and the Caesar dressing is homemade which is incredible! Friend of mine got the hot Italian sub and he said it was phenomenal as well. This is such a nice little place in the heart of Bloomington, if you're in town don't miss it for a quick lunch.
(4)
Allen K.
Best place for a beer and pizza in town. I stop there every time that I am back in BN!
(5)
John B.
Still great entries, still disappointing bread basket, still has great value carafe of wine & a salad that is nothing to write home about. Stopped in on a Sunday evening without reservations, won't do that again. We ended up at the bar and the bartender (we assume the owner) did not make us feel welcome. Definitely geared to the locals as he greeted them all by name. Not that he didn't take care of us, just the attitude left a lasting impression.
(3)
Sean H.
I won't front at all - Lucca is LEGIT. My great-grandfather Jimmy Ryan called the owners friends - he went here all the time in his day and it's no doubt as good as it was then still today but I gotta make note of this: Tonight, I rolled in after one of Bloomington's lamer beer fests. I understand Lucca doesn't appreciate a once-a-year bozo coming in and acting like a nerd after a night of drinking; I GET it. What I DON'T get is me popping in, and accidentally bumping for into a server who had ZERO food or drink in her hands and her exclaiming"OH MY GOD" as if I had caused her to drop a priceless piece of art on the ground and then the manager or owner or whoever acting all annoyed and telling me to find my seat. REALLY? I've been coming here all my life. Just because there is a beer fest that brings a bunch of drunken nerds into your place, that gives you the right to act like I committed a federal crime by making some incidental contact with a server? Anyway, The pizza is as good as ever but the experience was lame. Come down to the Irish Circle in Wapella, folks. You won't be made to feel like a fool if you accidentally bump into someone. Pardon me. A thousand apologies for my indiscretion. Bartenders were cool though, glad to tip them well.
(5)
Jean-Paul M.
It pains me to write this because I have loved this place for years. Something was immediately off from the beginning, the waitress was gone for very long periods of time and was apologizing to us and other tables for the wait. Where does she keep disappearing to, this is a small restaurant? Anyway, ordered cheese ravioli and drinks to start. Meat ravioli arrived and she argued with us that it's what we wanted. No, our table of five confirmed we were pretty clear about what we ordered. While waiting for our pizzas, some young kid went in and out of the tiny men's room. Not sure what happened in there but owner Tony was pissed about it as usual and made sure everyone was aware of it as he donned rubber gloves and yelled across the quiet restaurant. The wilted salads came with the sour dressing (can salad dressing 'turn'?). And then the pizza. Two were burnt to a crisp. The third one was underdone. She agreed that they were making a replacement for the worst of the burned one, and that I'd have to 'let her know' if mine was too burned to enjoy. I'm thinking, if it looks that bad you should have made the judgement call to replace mine as well. I watched her interact with and bus several nearby tables. She appeared very 'out of it' and was maybe just having a bad night. Owner Tony proceeded to belittle patrons who arrived without reservations and tell them he could 'maybe get them a table in 35 minutes or so'. Awful. Couldn't wait to leave.
(2)
Kristi S.
They were popular on a Tuesday night, with an hour long wait. We had tickets for a show nearby and couldn't stay, but it smelled so amazing that thoughts of pizza haunted our evening. We returned at 10 PM to plenty of open tables. The pizza was good, and an impromptu barbershop chorus performance from the diners behind us added to the old time atmosphere.
(4)
Malcolm C.
We love thin crust & tavern/bar ambiance. Service has always been good and pizza is delish. Recommended!
(4)
Amanda K.
Never have I ever been so disappointed in a restaurant. Service was awful, and the manager was beyond rude. The food was decent, but nothing came out on time. We were supposed to get salads and breadsticks, which we had to ask for multiple times only to receive a few salads halfway through dinner. The staff and managers disgusting attitudes didn't help with the awful service, and I would not recommend dining here. Ever.
(1)
Sean B.
Lucca Grill is a tradition in Bloomington. Either you love it or you hate it. As a kid my family didn't dine at Lucca, but as an adult I'm a regular. As an appetizer we ordered the Spinach Artichoke dip. It arrived at the table with a very hot temperature and was creamy. I know that this dip is a common appetizer at mediocre restaurants, but Lucca's is delicious. It's a perfect blend and the homemade chips are fresh with a great crunch. Pizza is the order on every visit. Our first choice is the A La Baldoni. It comes with savory sausage, pepperoni, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and pepperoncini. It's a great and filling pizza. Order the large and there's plenty to take home. (I make everyone order their own pizza so I can enjoy my leftovers later at home). I prefer the Meat Combo pizza when I'm not in the mood for a lot of vegetables on my pizza. The food arrives quickly. The restaurant is always busy. The service is better on the main floor. It seems to be either too hot or too cold on the second floor. There's a side entrance that allows you to go up to the second floor without going through the crowd in the bar area. They have a great selection of beer, too.
(5)
Kevin K.
It's a local place that has a lot of history here. Over the years, I've enjoyed their pizza, including the a la Baldini, but the last few times we've been there, haven't been great. I'm not sure if they changed anything with the pizza, but the crust has been overdone and is sort of burnt-crispy with fewer toppings than usual. My kids ordered the mozzarella sticks the other night and it costs about $8 for 6 sticks. We left disappointed and felt like we spent way too much for what we got. Since we don't usually remember to make reservations, we usually get seated upstairs. As others have mentioned, the atmosphere up there is lacking, and recently I've noticed the floor up there doesn't seem level and seems to be sinking in parts. I really want it to be good based on previous experiences over the last 10 years, but the last few times we've been in there it hasn't been all that great.
(2)
Todd B.
Best thin crust pizza in town. They'll even put the pizza in a box if you order takeout. The box makes bringing a pizza home in your car much more convenient
(5)
Taylor A.
I'm not really sure how this place came to be the highest rated pizza place in Bloomington. The pizza was really thin, but was too crispy and not at all chewy like good pizza is supposed to be. The crust was almost cracker like. We were sat upstairs next to a massive HVAC unit. Why they seat people upstairs at all is beyond me. It really has a old house attic feel that didn't have any ambiance. Obviously this place is very popular with the locals, based on how packed it was, but I couldn't find any redeeming qualities to come back here. My quest for good pizza in Bloomington continues...
(2)
Steve R.
Yeah. This is the joint to hit when you're in this town. Evidently been around for 100 years and I can see why. Great pizza, GREAT service, decent beers, good chicken parm. Spot on, the fam dug it, good for kids. Win.
(5)
Z Z.
A staple to the area, been going since the beginning of my time, but was recently bummed when I overheard the pizza maker complaining about making gluten free pizzas. Never a good thing when you pay for a service and they complain/act pissed to do their job. Sorry to put you out..
(3)
Tara L.
Called to make a reservation because my mom can't do stairs. Got right in which was nice! We got wings and 2 pizzas. The wings were nothing great at all but the pizzas were awesome! We will def return!!
(4)
Darrell S.
Classic Bloomington Normal restaurant and bar. Seating downstairs or up and lots of nostalgia on the walls to look at. Italian theme and great appetizers, stuffed ravioli, antipasto plate. Thin crust pizza is the best you will find anywhere I love the Ala Baldini and the crust is always cooked to perfection in the 100 year old oven. Resonable prices and a good craft selection on tap one of my favorites!
(4)
Andre B.
Best pizza in central Illinois. Period!!! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great place to meet friends for an evening out.
(4)
Supreet S.
Pizza was close to authentic wood clay oven pizzas.
(4)
Suzanne T.
I think it's fantastic that they have gluten free pizza and pasta. However, gf pasta noodles have to be removed from boiling water more quickly so they don't fall apart. I was literally served a bowl of mush. The noodles were in 1" pieces and all stuck together in tasteless, unappetizing clumps. The meat sauce, which the extremely kind waitress described as "finer" than their other sauces was pretty tasteless and had a large piece of gristle in it. Also sampled cheese gf pizza. It was sweet and chewy. Not my idea of a good pie at all. I give 2 stars for the helpful waitress and for the fact that they are obviously trying. I like the divey atmosphere. For a moment I could forget I was stuck in a small Midwestern town wishing I was elsewhere.
(2)
Derek S.
So I've never used yelp before but I had to download the app so I could write a review for this place. Honestly, the food was good and the prices were decent, but the service was absolutely horrible! It took over an hour to get our food. We had to ask multiple times for our appetizer which came with our meal. Our salads(some of them) came out after our dinner, along with 5 breadsticks for the 9 of us, which were supposed to be complimentary. We also had to wait forever for our second carafe of wine, because they only have one carafe at the restaurant. Then, when it came to splitting the bill, the waiter had absolutely no idea what he was doing. We asked for the manager, who is also apparently the owner and his pictures in the menu and on the wall in the frames. He was an absolute dooschebag! Super rude and talked down to us even though they messed up and we did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, I will never return here again and can only recommend that no one else come here as well.
(1)
Dmitry P.
Great thin crust pizza. I grew up in NY and have been craving some good pizza. Lucca's was a pleasant surprise. The toppings are great as well.
(5)
Melissa R.
Great place to go eat! The sandwiches are delicious and not overpriced. Great service.
(5)
Andy B.
Enjoyed a delicious thin crust pizza, saus & mushroom, w a nice Merlot. The crust was amazing, I joked it's like biting into air, as there seems to be an air pocket between the top and bottom of it which is quite unique. Zesty sauce not really sweet but mighty tasty! Was Monday evening this week, place was jam-packed w folks enjoying good company and wonderful food. The Great Baldini, whose portrait hovers above the bar, opened this gem over 50 years ago and it's been going strong since. He did it right, and there's even a pizza named after him. The night I visited, was lucky enough to enjoy the music of a local group playing fiddle and Irish tunes, and also met some nice folks including Marie from Michigan and a couple from Chicagoland. I highly recommend Lucca's, where the atmosphere is as great as the pizza! Thanks Yelp!
(5)
Pete W.
Friendly service but not good pizza for the price. ** note this rating is just on the pizza not the bar. Paid over 32 dollars for a large 2 item and a medium specialty. Half veggie -half cheese only. If the pizza was great I would have gladly paid that much. I was in town and wanted to try something other than a chain pizza place. So I ordered take out from there. By the name of the place - I thought it was a pizzeria not a bar that serves pizza. If you wanted to go out with friends it may have been a great place - but I am just judging based on the pizza. Very little cheese on the pizza and nothing special. Will probably stick to chain pizzas for awhile.
(2)
Bob Z.
This place is excellent! Good atmosphere good service and very good pizza. Friendly helpful staff and a nice selection of beers on tap. Nice downtown location with off street parking. From the outside it looks like it should be a good place to be and it doesn't disappoint.
(4)
Steve G.
Tradition is one thing but a good pizza at Lucca's is a sometimes thing I am thinking. My last one was burnt on the bottom, too dry on top, and missing one of two toppings ordered. Someone needs to have their eye on the "pies" and their makers. I was home for a quick visit, Lucca's for pizza was the one place, besides Avanti's, that I wanted to go...the pizza was a disappointment - I will go there for a beer at the bar but elsewhere for pizza next time. Family reminded me that if it is thin pizza Bloomington style...go to Tobins.
(2)
Tracey P.
A family favorite and the place we take everyone that comes to visit. Excellent every time and you can't beat the atmosphere.
(5)
Joe R.
I like Lucca mostly for its ambiance and decor. The pizza is okay, but not really worth the price.
(3)
Cynthia K.
Once again "awesome pizza".....I have yet to have a bad experience with this place. A really busy night and the service was great- fast friendly!
(5)
Samuel S.
I can't believe I've lived in Bloomington-Normal my whole life and just went to Lucca for the first time recently. I just carried out, so i don't feel as if I've really had the 'full experience' quite yet. I had a beer at the bar while I was waiting though. Staff I interacted with were very friendly. Best part of it all: the pizza is excellent. I definitely am a fan of thin, crispy crust and Luccas does it so well. Ordered the 'A La Baldini' and it was simply a great pizza. A minor disappointment: some of the slices in the middle were a bit less crispy, maybe a little underdone? But let's be honest: I still ate them and loved it. Only downside is it is a bit pricy in my opinion. A Large Pizza was every bit of $20.00. Seems like a really great place with a long history. I definitely look forward to coming here more often.
(4)
Zach N.
When it comes to thin crust pizza in Bloomington, you can do a lot worse than Lucca Grill. It didn't blow me away, but it was good. Considering the pizza situation in this town, anything "good" tastes great in comparison to most other options. The downstairs bar area is awesome. Dimly lit, very towny feeling, and close. The staff is friendly and helpful, like they're actually happy to be there. I'm giving Lucca an extra star simply because of their great staff. Other than a few appetizers, I haven't really had much else on the menu. To be honest, I don't know if I'll ever get anything other than pizza from Lucca Grill, and I'm fine with that.
(4)
Mike C.
Love this place more and more. Order the spinach/artichoke dip with a meatball in the middle. Change your life.
(5)
Jeff D.
This review is solely based on Lucca's pizza...here we go. Jesus christ. If you haven't tried Lucca's pizza, you have to. Frankly, I'm not a fan of thin crust. I grew up in the 80's and 90's when thick crust pepperoni was the thing. However, as an adult, I've realized there's a difference between what is good pizza and what is great pizza. Good pizza for me is frozen, Papa John's, Domino's and Pizza Hut (even tho the Hut is like Taco Bell and you deuce 30 minutes after eating). When I want serious adult pizza? I hit up Lucca. Here's the thing. The crust is almost cracker thin. But there's something in the dough. Almost a smokey element. It's amazing. Second thing I can tell you about Lucca...don't just order a single topping (i.e. plain cheese, only pepperoni or half sausage and half mushroom). I have to admit, I love tomato sauce so much, I usually prefer just cheese pizza, or maybe a pepperoni. But, let me tell you, you can't do that at Lucca cuz you'll leave and you'll say to yourself, "Ugh, that sucked and was expensive"...and then you'll frown. Basically, whatever they add to their dough? It compliments MANY toppings. The more toppings, the better it is. My best recommendation is to try the A La Baldini. It does come with pepperocinis and my arch nemesis (the mushroom) on it, but you can ask for those to be taken off or take them off yourself as they're not chopped up. The salty and savory of many toppings plays into the odd yet delightful cracker-ey dough. Taylor A...I mean no disrespect, but I'd love to take you back to Lucca. I feel like you should give it a second chance. :o)
(5)
Sabra B.
Stay away. Rude & horrible service!!! I've given this place multiple chances & over & over I am let down & disappointed. Every single person who works here acts like they hate their lives and like you're doing them a disservice for being there. Save your time & money and go somewhere where your presence is welcomed. Even trying to call for a reservation you will get put on hold for 5 minutes and given extremely ignorant service. Give them a call and see for yourself. Very unimpressed and let down..
(1)
T. J.
I've quickly became a fan of Lucca's! Not only do they have a cool bar and friendly staff but they've got an excellent pizza! Some of the best thin crust pizza I've had. You also can't go wrong by ordering garlic bread with cheese. Salads... Pretty darn good too! They've also got a great beer selection.
(5)
Dynae T.
I'm new to Bloomington, so I've only been here once. I had several people recommend it to me, so I thought it was worth a try. Turns out it was! I work at Monical's pizza, which also has thin crust pizza, so I didn't expect it to top Monical's. I was wrong. I don't think I could decide between the two of them. Lucca's pizza was really awesome. It had just the right amount of crisp to it, and not too many toppings. I ordered the Lucca Surpreme and split it with two other people and we couldn't finish it. Even though it's thin crust, it's definitely filling. Also, for an appetizer we had the fried ravioli. They weren't mind blowing, but they were decent. No complaints. I was surprised when I ordered my drink that they didn't have Coke or Pepsi. They actually had RC products, which I wasn't too crazy about at first, but when I got my drink it tasted just like Coke, so that's no big deal. Our meal was a little pricey, but overall I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a nice hometown feel pizza place.
(4)
KJ V.
Great atmosphere! Great pizza! Great sandwiches! Thin crust pizza that is crunchy and delicious! The sandwiches are also great. I recommend The Lois. Cool decor. A lot of Old things that are very neat. Tony, the guys who runs/owns the place, couldn't be a nicer guy too. Great service. They take reservations, which is also nice!!
(4)
Gail W.
We were in Bloomington on business Saturday and decided on pizza for supper. We went to Lucca Grill based on Yelp reviews. The building is downtown and very charming. It was about 5:30 and most of the tables were full or reserved, but Tony said there was a table for two left upstairs. We trooped up the steep stairs and were seated promptly. The fire escape door was propped open with a fan in front of the door -- AC did not appear to be working upstairs. The room was more stuffy than hot. Our waitress came quickly and took our drink orders. It took her a bit to get back to take our dinner orders, but the pizzas came fairly quickly after we ordered. My husband had the A La Baldini with no cheese (lactose intolerant) and he enjoyed it. I thought the toppings were sort of skimpy, but it was his pizza. I had the Create Your Own with Ham, Bacon, and Black Olives (and cheese). It was very good. I'm partial to thin crusted pizza and theirs is perfect. The place was really full by the time we finished and it took the waitress too long to bring our bill and then pick up the credit card. Other tables seemed to be visiting and enjoying the wait, but it was hot in there by then and I was ready to head out!! We would go back....probably not in the summer, though, unless we are positive the AC is working well.
(4)
Joseph P.
Excellent, crispy-thin pizza in an old-fashioned bar. Whenever I'm in Bloomington I stop by Lucca for a little pizza and a beer. Everyone in here is friendly, happy to make recommendations on the menu, and even share the history of the restaurant and the area. Sure, you can order up a pizza to the hotel, but you can do that at home. Get out, explore downtown, then have dinner at Lucca. See you there...
(5)
Kevin R.
My fiancee and I can destroy a large veggie special in about ten minutes. This pizza is really good. I recommend calling in advance for reservations - especially if you want a table downstairs, which has way better ambiance than upstairs. The real deal, this place.
(5)
GoodEats M.
Order pizza to go. Baldini wasn't so bad. It was crowed. Would come back for dining to try more entrees.
(4)
Carrie A.
Happened upon a real treasure. We were looking at the Yelp offerings when we came to Lucca's, we decided to stop. So glad we did. Pizza was excellent and the baked ziti was outstanding. Lots of great atmosphere. Thursday night, and the place was packed. Service was very good. Will definitely go back next time we are in the area!
(5)
Lisa L.
I'd heard Lucca had gluten free pizza and pasta and was excited to try it. I have celiac disease so called ahead to make sure they could make the dishes without risk of contamination with the gluten containing dishes. It is not. They told me they did not make the dishes in a separate area and that they use the same utensils as the dishes with gluten.
(1)
Mark B.
Wow. Originally from BNL but never been here! Good pizza. Salad mediocre. What a traditional small city establishment....
(4)
John S.
Never had the pizza - but noticed that many other diners indulging. Oatmeal stout (on tap) and italian sausage marinara. Side salad. Nice meal. I'll try the pizza next time.
(3)
Elise M.
Great local place for awesome pizza! I highly recommend the al a baldini pizza. On the evenings and the weekends, there can be a long wait so plan ahead and make a reservation!
(5)
Tristan B.
I tell people from Champaign that Lucca's is like Jupiter's without the pool. Good thin crust pizza in a historic building. Lucca has a cramped dining area downstairs and a less cramped, but less historic dining area upstairs. The upstairs dining area is only open for dinner and requires you to either walk all the way through the main down stairs area or enter through the back door. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal and get made quickly enough for one to have plenty of time to make it back to the office. The pizza is sometimes a little overly greasy and the sauce isn't as good as the sauce at Jupiter's in Champaign, but I've disliked the pizza here. Everything else on the menu is pretty much fried food of some sort. The chicken livers were okay. The waitstaff has always been very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Debbie F.
Absolutely the best thin crust pizza in central illinois. The crust is flaky and buttery, and the pizza is always perfectly done. If you come on a weekend, be prepared for a wait unless you eat slightly off of normal dining hours. Great pizza, friendly service, clean restaurant.
(5)
Talisa G.
This was might first visit but it won't be my last! We didn't know to make reservations, but we were seated downstairs anyway. It was early on a Friday. Now, the food.. The side salad can be dismissed, ice berg lettuce in a plastic container, but the House dressing was so good, I wished I'd dunked my bread in it rather than pour it on lettuce. I let the waitress pick my main entree, Baked Ziti or Salsicci Pasta. She chose the Salsicci and wow! It was amazing! Swimming in butter, two tubes of (not house made) pasta stuffed with tasty meat, covered with house-made tomato sauce. Sssoooo delicious! I recommend that pasta and cannot wait to eat here again.
(4)
Rex L.
This is the home of the best, thinnest crust, pizza ever. I usally go with sausage and pepperoni, but I have ordered the cheese pizza as an appetizer as their dinners are great too. Decent beer selection. Located in the historic downtown area of Bloomington and has been here forever.
(5)
Sam B.
Been a while, but stepping inside feels like I was just here yesterday. Baldini pizza for the win.
(5)
Mike N.
Great pizza, comfortable atmosphere, friendly owner / operator, and lunch specials. 100 year old pizza oven. Highly recommend
(5)
Van M.
From the sheer number of reviews here you can already tell that it's a place you should check out. Most people I know LOVE Lucca's. Personally, I think the pizza is okay. The best part about Lucca's is the atmosphere. It's corner location, dim lighting, old decorations and bar give it a city feel, which is rare in this town. On busy nights they will open up the upstairs. This is also where they'll put you if you have a big group. Unfortunately, the ambiance on the second floor is complete 180 from the main floor. When you're on the second floor it feels like you should be celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party. For that reason, I would recommend going here with a group of four or fewer on busy nights and eight or fewer on slow nights. If you're just visiting, this may also be a nice place to grab a beer and not feel creepy. It's a relaxed vibe is what I'm trying to say.
(4)
Tim C.
Five stars...Baldini...all the food is good...nice beer selection, seating is limited but it is worth whatever wait you might have, tho I have never had one. Yum!
(5)
Pete R.
In all honesty I feel like I have to come clean in admitting that over the years we have gotten to know the management team at Lucca pretty well. Johnny and Tony are now like old friends to us, but that is part of the point here. Especially at the bar (where we actually prefer to sit unless we're with a big crowd), going to Lucca is like going to a buddy's house, a buddy with an large classic pizza oven - circa 1940's - that still kicks butt and takes names! Not only has their cracker crust converted this Chicago style deep dish lover, their appetizers (fried ravs and believe it or not, parmesan wings) and entrees (canneloni) are top-notch and the beer selection is a small but very well-represented one. Its because of these things we been going a couple times a month for the last several years and at this point we feel like extended family. Especially with the recently remodeled upstairs and the broadening of the menu to include new items (like the wings and the desert), give our freinds at Lucca Grill a chance to show you why!
(5)
Melissa D.
Best pizza ever. And yes, EVER. I love it. Crispy, tons of ingredients, cooked perfectly and right in front of you. :) Get the Baldini. You can thank me later. :) Doesn't take too long either. I love the ambiance of this place. The staff is so friendly and I feel like I'm at Cheers because everyone in the whole place is so nice. We like to sit at the bar and the bartender is so sweet. I love the decorations in Lucca. High ceilings. Vintage memorabilia on the wall. Great atmosphere. It is a bit more expensive than some places around town, but because it is soooo good and worth every penny. Great drink specials throughout the week. Yum.
(5)
Azsure D.
What a nice evening. Lucca Grill offered delightful service in a charming setting. We very much enjoyed dining there. We had the pizza. It was thin as paper with a yummy crust. I would have preferred more toppings, but my husband thought it just right. He claims it is his favorite thin crust in the Bloomington area.
(3)
Bob K.
I don't see what the fuss is about this place. It's old and there isn't a dish here that is amazing. Just ok.
(3)
Chef B.
If you need a Yelp review to help make the decision about whether to go to Lucca Grill for some of the finest thin crust pizza you'll ever have . . . then okay. Here's your review. It's tremendous. If you're going for the first time and you don't order a pizza, I don't know what to tell you. Stop getting cute and just order what they're known for. I'm sure their italian dishes are fine, but why bother? The pizza is the star of the show. Going to Lucca and not getting pizza is like going to Six Flags, skipping the rides and just go to the snack bar. If going for dinner, call ahead to see if you can get a spot downstairs. That's where you'll get the full effect of Lucca and it's old-school charm. The upstairs is pretty sterile. One of the best pints you'll get in all of town and the service is always friendly, fast and if you're lucky, a little sassy. Best thin crust you'll find anywhere in a 100 mile radius. It's only challenger may be Agatucci's in Peoria. But Aggies can't touch Lucca's environment, bar and overall experience.
(5)
Megan K.
I love Lucca - best thin crust in town - and it's usually my first recommendation when I have guests visiting from out of town. This past weekend, I had company in town and suggested Lucca as a local treat. We called ahead for a table, and were glad we thought of it because the place was packed. Fortunately, our table was waiting. It took 90 minutes to get our pizza, which seemed like a lot. Yes, we had appetizers, but overall it felt like we were waiting for ages. The thing that prompted the review, however, is that no one on staff seemed to be watching the door. I saw several people come in, stand by the counter (clearly waiting for someone to point them to a table) and no one on staff ever talked to them or even made eye contact. In one case it looked like a server (dark hair, ponytail, glasses) was making her way over to a couple at the door. She had just cleared a table and was returning items to their places along the bar. Finally she dropped off a pizza tray, looked at the couple who was waiting (and clearly thought she was coming to talk to them) and then turned her back and walked away! This couple immediately walked out, as did three others I saw try to get the staff's attention in the 2 hours I was there. Yes, the place was very busy, but the staff should at least acknowledge and TALK to the people who walk in! Anyway, the food is amazing and usually the staff is great. I was just really surprised at my experience this weekend and hope this doesn't mean the place is going downhill.
(2)
Shaun B.
Second best pizza in town...a close runner-up to Tobins. When we are in town and have time, my wife and I stop in for lunch. Greta atmosphere and great pizza.
(5)
Eric J.
A la baldini!
(5)
Daniel F.
This is a good choice in an area that while improving, is still full of chains. This place has been around for 75 years, great tin ceilings and old-school atmosphere. I have the misfortune of being in town and eating here at peak times, so I am usually stuck at the bar. While that may make things cramped, it usaully means better service. Thin crust pizza is the go-to thing here (salads I have had are forgettable). I am a fan of the nicely seasoned sausage, and the cheesecake with strawberries, if not homemade (not sure), is of good quality. Noise lvel can be high, but family and solo diner friendly. Recommended.
(4)
Dan N.
After I realized my first 2 dining options in the Bloomington/Normal area were closed on Monday, I "settled" on Lucca Grill. Walking into Lucca Grill, my immediate impression was that this was WAY more of a dive than I expected. But after settling in at a seat on the bar and looking around, I realized that this place was actually pretty cool. High, vintage ceilings and old photo's of the restaurant and owners on the wall give this place a good, small-town feel. As for the food, the pizza was awesome! I had the Baldini pizza--the cracker thin crust and overloaded fresh toppings made this one of the best (and unique) pizzas that I've had in quite some time. I ordered a small and I was able to finish it myself--mostly due to the pure deliciousness of the pizza, as opposed to my hunger. I also tried their "World-Famous" fried chicken livers--I'm not sure how they earned that title, but I would NOT recommend. That said, the pizza was amazing enough to earn this place a solid 4 stars!
(4)
Kim J.
I probably should have yelped this place for recommendations before I came, because I don't think I ordered right, and the stuff I had was decidedly average. The fiance and future in-laws took me to Lucca Grill for dinner on a Saturday night. The space is small and cramped, but not in a good way - the waitress kept knocking into me no matter how I positioned my chair. We all ordered various pasta dishes, which all came with the salad. The salad was kinda gross - plain old iceberg lettuce and a tomato slice. The pasta dishes ranged from average to good - I had the pasta primavera and probably could have done better myself at home. The FMIL had ravioli in pesto that she thought were good. Fiance had lasagna, which he seemed to like (but then again, he commented that it's pretty hard to screw up lasagna). The FFIL had a cannoli-like dish that he also seemed to like. They have a decent beer list and a full bar. Service was ok - not fantastic but not bad either. I won't write Lucca off yet, but I'll be sure and have pizza next time.
(3)
Dana A.
great beer and service. Food was good-
(4)
Tim J.
Went after a hockey game with some friends. One of them wanted the pizza to be cut differently than they normally do (as I recall, they do squares and she wanted slices or it could have been the other way around, but it was such a trivial deviation that I don't remember). Anyway, the waitress was firm that such a modification was utterly impossible in every way. Their SOPs for cutting pizza are as immutable as the laws of physics. Their way or the highway, I guess. Other than that, the pizza was pretty good thin crust pizza. I think they use an old oven (thats good!), or at least it tastes that way. I thought they had a decent selection of bottle beer, and it did not take too long to go from sit to check. The place was not busy, but the server seemed a little overwhelmed with the half-dozen or so small groups. The decor is great, and the aroma of the place is intoxicating. Prices are high, but excusable based upon location and decor. 4 stars for the restaurant, minus one for the stubborness. Also, they close early, even on Fri & Sat nites. WTF?
(3)
Eric G.
Definitely go there for the pizza and the atmosphere. It's a small place but some of the best pizza in town. Super thin crust that unlike most other places does not taste like the cardboard under it. I won't go as far to say it's the best pizza I have ever had but it is top 3. I especially like sausage and black olives for toppings and have yet to try anything else to list. No need to venture out when the pizza is so good.
(4)
Albert H.
Cracker thin crust, top notch cheese, and tangy sauce make this one of the best pizzas in Bloomington/Normal. They also have a good selection of craft beers to pair with the pizza, and for me there's nothing like a great pizza with a Bavarian Hefe-Weizen to wash it down. Really this location is more like a bar than a restaurant, so I'm not so sure how friendly it would be with children. Nice downtown location too.
(4)
Meghan B.
Pretty darn solid. Crust is a little thin for my taste, but it was really good pizza at a really fair price. Add to it the history of the place, the pizzeria smell when you walk in the door, the great draft beer selection, and the friendly service. And Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)
Jamie M.
Lucca's is a Bloomington instituion for pizza. It's not always the best pizza, it's not always the worst pizza, but it's pizza with tradition, pizza with heritage. It's the ultimate in super-thin-man-I'm-hungry-and-just-ate-half-a-Âlarge crust 'za. I've been eating at Lucca's for years - since I first moved to Bloomington in 1995. Back then it was awesome. Then it slipped in terms of both customer service and quality of the food. The pizza was coming out undercooked or overcooked on a consistent basis. Now, my opinion is that Lucca's has been on the right uphill track for the last year. The pizza is once again consistent and delicious. Customer service is still a bit up and down, but I would say more up than down. If you have never been in before and you actually like stuff on your pizza, the Ala Baldini is a must try. It's the pizza they are known for!
(4)
country b.
First timer last night, got the Baldini pizza. Tasty and delicious. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying out other menu items. Recommended!
(4)
David C.
The food at Lucca Grill has always been better than average for me. I read with great interest Amy C's review and I have to say I do not love the service at Lucca. The building is historic as is the bar--however, the main dining area is very crowded. I don't know if its a good thing or bad to be sent upstairs to the overflow dining area. It is much more spacious, but they spent exactly $0 on trying to make that space as comfortable and appealing as the downstairs. That room upstairs is an embarassment.
(3)
Frank E.
This is one of those places like Jimmy John's that everyone seems to absolutely love but is really just "meh." My only real experience with the place is their pizza. Their pizza is ok. Nothing special. If you happen to be in the area, check it out. Nothing to go out of your way for though. At least not from my experiences.
(2)
Brant A.
The Baldini pizza and a Guinness -- and I am happy. Seriously still one of the best pizzas I've ever had. And great atmosphere as well.
(5)
Edward B.
Try the Al Baldini Special! This place is where both locals and politicians come to mingle. Great food & bat.
(5)
Trevor R.
Good. Good. Pizza. Cool atmosphere too. Makes you feel like you're not actually in bloomington
(4)
Ryan W.
Definitely my favorite pizza place in Bloomington/Normal. The thin crust pizza with fresh toppings is delicious every time I am there. I also love their breadsticks and the cheese dipping sauce. They also have some great beers on tap. A definite bonus is the atmosphere in Lucca. The downstairs is small and it is a tight fit, but the old decorations and bar make the downstairs a great dining experience. On busy nights the upstairs dining room is opened for dining, but it is not nearly the same atmosphere. So, if you are going on a weekend night, you may want to call ahead to get a reservation for downstairs.
(5)
Vicki T.
I had my first ever "pizza pie" here in the 1950's with my family and have been going back ever since!! My dad was a democrat croney of the Baldinis and we went there often...now my husband and I can be found there nearly every Monday night having red wine or a beer and an a la Baldini Pizza...sometime we throw in an order of deep fried mushrooms just for good measure! I know they have killer lasagne and do a right fine burger too! I cannot say enough about Lucca Grill, a historic landmark in downtown Bloomington!
(5)
Russ C.
Another great downtown local bar and grill, along with Rosie's and Reality Bites. Unlike the latter, Lucca is open Monday, and is open late (kitchen closes at 10). The service is friendly and the food is very good. The pizza is excellent - flaky thin crust with fresh toppings, and the sauce isn't overwhelming. The pasta is not that great, but a good deal (1/2 order of pasta and salad for $5). The Sausage and Peppers is good. Not only are they open on Mondays, but actually had live music (open mic). Overall, very solid, and they serve Shlitz to boot.
(4)
Kristi R.
I used to love Lucca's pizza, but I will not set foot in the place anymore. Last November, five of my friends and I went there for a later supper. It was crowded, but nothing too unusual for a Saturday night. The waitress first told us it was going to be a half hour wait, even though we could clearly see three or four tables open. Then she said we could sit there, but we couldn't pull the tables together. ??? She was snippy the whole time, obviously not wanting to wait on us. Finally one of the busboys told us we most certainly could push the tables together so we sat down. We finally got our drinks and orders taken, and after quite a while got our very lukewarm food. Then our waitress stopped waiting on us. She stopped at every other table but not ours. We had to go to the bar to get our pop refills and when we tried to flag her down, she would look at us, turn away, and walk the other direction. Finally we got our check and it was, of course, wrong. She had charged us for items we didn't order and not charges us for other items. She put it all on one check, never bothering to ask us if we needed to pay separate. It took us a half hour to get it worked out, and we had to talk to a manager to do it because she was too dense to get it right even when I wrote it all out for her. By this time we were peeved and we certainly weren't going to leave her one penny in tip. We had tried to be civil up to that point but no more. She was nasty to us the entire time. I might've chalked this up to one stupid person who needed to be fired, but as we were walking out the door, the guy making pizzas yelled B****!!! at us twice, as loud as he could so the whole place could hear! One of my friends went back in and had a little chat with the manager who said he'd take care of it, but he never did a thing. I wrote an e-mail to the owner and never heard a word back. As a fellow downtown business owner, I find not only the actions of his employees appalling but his inaction just as appalling. We didn't do a thing to deserve that treatment and I will advise everyone I know not to patronize that kind of establishment. They could have the best pizza in town (which they don't) but they won't see a penny from me or any of my friends or relatives.
(1)
K S.
Best pizza in town! Great beer selection and ambience is fun. Try any of their pizza's... they taste like heaven.
(5)
Kelly M.
One of the oldest restaurants in Bloomington...you get exactly what you see....good pizza in an incredibly busy atmosphere. Not the type of sit down romantic place for an anniversary, but perfect place to go and meet friends before/after a show.
(5)
B L.
We are from out of town & have only been here once but we had a good time. Probably should've made a res. (It was Sat. about 8PM) It was really busy & told a wait of 30-45 min. but then the manager said he could get us in upstairs in 15. We sat at the bar & not long later a table downstairs opened up. My husband loved the pizza, the wings are great, my chicken alfredo was very good also. See some reviews about bad service, it was really good on our visit. The guy making pizzas greeted us when we walked in, our waitress was fast & checked on us, our food didn't take long at all even though it was packed, & the bartender got right to us too. It is very narrow & a tight space. Glad we got downstairs although we didn't get to see the upstairs. I like busy atmospheres like that, good for people watching & fun for our date as we weren't looking for something fancy.
(4)
Andrew K.
Lucca's Grill is the best pizza in town, in my book. It is a wonderful place at which to become a regular.
(5)
John T.
Most probably the best thin crust pizza in town. They must be doing something right, they've been around since the 1930s. While the pizza is great, the salads and sandwiches are only so-so. I once ordered a salad that was ice cold and served in a plastic container right out of a refrigerator.
(4)
Lawrence T.
This place is everything that's great about blo/no. The history, the food, the atmosphere. It is what you want in a mom and pop.
(5)
Bailey S.
Let me start by saying I am a server so the food industry is nothing new to me. With that, This was an insanely terrible dining experience for me and my party of six. We went to Lucca's this evening in an attempt at some good pizza. Found on Yelp accompanied by some good reviews. Was greeted with a stone faced woman and told the only seats were at the bar. Happily took our seats at at the bar and preceded to listen to the bartender/manager Elizabeth standing directly in front of us on the phone, discussing how insanely busy they were and how six people (us) just walked in and sat down. I'm not sure if she thought we weren't paying attention when she said the "40 Jehovah's witnesses upstairs Just got their food and we close in an hour" but the entire conversation was wildly inappropriate and rude to say the least. Needless to say we decided to not dine in and will absolutely never go back.
(1)
Scott M.
Love lucca so much. The waitresses are hit and miss. Sometimes good sometimes your better off going up to the bar yourself. The pizza is quite possibly the best ever, very fresh ingredients and cooked perfectly just about every time. They have a good selection of beers on tap and the bartenders are extremely nice. A+++++
(5)
Amanda R.
I just moved to Bloomington a month ago and I've already eaten at Lucca Grill 5 times. The pizza is fantastic and the atmosphere is great. What Dodd V. calls run down, I call soulful. Seriously, this is a pizza joint with a soul. It's been in business since 1936 and many of the original fixtures remain, (like the beautiful tin ceiling) but everything appears to be very well maintained and clean. I think I'd cry if they ever remodeled. Our servers have always been fantastic- very friendly and they've never messed up our order.
(5)
Kelly K.
This is my favorite pizza of all time. I have 30+ years of pizza-eating experience, and nothing has ever topped Lucca. I live in Chicago, but deep-dish pizza does nothing for me. I have always preferred a thin, crispy crust. Thin? Easy to find. Crispy, flaky, cracker-like texture? Not so much. My anniversary is coming up in October and I've told my husband I want a trip down to Bloomington just for this pizza. Seriously. Get in the car by 11, be down there by 1:30 or so, have lunch, drive back home. It's totally worth it to me. Even my husband, a Chicago-style pizza lover, was completely impressed. Also, their fried mushrooms are hot little balls of bliss.
(5)
Edwin L.
This place is great if you can find a place downstairs. Good thin cracker crust, but nothing that will blow you away especially with the price. The downstairs is really cool and lots of history, the upstairs has a bit of an odd atmosphere. If you are stopping through Bloomington, it is definitely a destination place.
(3)
Jessica S.
Great thin crust pizza, try the veggie lovers, its fantastic. Oh and you can order Schlitz in a bottle. Yeah. The atmosphere downstairs is the best but its teeny tiny so you might end up sitting upstairs. They are one of the ONLY places in Btown to take reservations so make them and sit downstairs. Some great beers on tap if roughing it with Schlitz isn't your style. Fantastic choice to eat if you're heading out to the coliseum or just want something in your belly before bar hopping the downtown circuit.
(4)
Dodd V.
Run down tavern with great pizza. When I was a young kid my dad took me there nearly weekly for a the pizza and it has not changed to this day. The place is a typical tavern atmosphere (there is an upstairs dining area that is pretty boring if you prefer) and not really much to look at, but the pizza is the best around. There are just a few places in B/N that I like the pizza and this is one of them. The service is so/so but then again, what do you expect going to a tavern for dinner. Go for the great pizza and accept the atmosphere and ok service. The pizza is worth the trip.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Ceasar P.
Showed up at 9:56pm thinking kitchen closed at 11pm but discovered it was 10pm. Staff was falling over themselves trying to let us know it would be their pleasure, it was no problem, and they'd be happy to help. I had baked Ziti, wife had small pizza...both DELICIOUS!! Food came out fast and hot, service was awesome, waitress came over within 3 bites for us both and made sure everything was perfect. Manager, Tony, came by, sat down, made sure we were happy and everything was perfect. If we lived in Bloomington, this would be our new hangout. GREAT JOB, LUCCA GRILL!! WE'LL BE BACK!!
(5)Brittany M.
A la Baldini pizza is where it's at! Thin, crispy pizza crust. Perfect blend of toppings, sauce and cheese. Whole peppers on top are also a nice tangy touch. The fried ravioli is also amazing. Great crunchy outside and nice meaty filling. Also a decent portion for an appetizer. Could feed about 4 people. Yum!
(4)Will G.
THE place in BloNo for pizza. Traditional wafer-thin crust pizza (and a variety of other Italian-American dishes). Great atmosphere. Reminiscent of an old corner bar in the big city. Professional staff.
(5)Mick B.
Lucca's friendly servers gave us just the right amount of attention that we wanted. It looks like they have a great selection of beers on tap although I was in the mood the night we visited for an "old standby". As others mentioned, the crust is quite thin, but I wanted to mention that it had a delicious and delicate buttery taste. I feel that there is room in the pizza world for some crust diversity, and I enjoyed Lucca's change of pace crust. I also agree with the previous comment that the pizza we ordered was quite light on toppings except that the "half" we ordered with sausage had the amount that we expected. I felt it was a fun experience in what appears to be a hockey/sports theme bar in the arts area of downtown Bloomington. If I lived closer, I'd probably be a regular.
(4)J O.
Why only two stars when I actually love this pizza? Service. I've been eating this pizza two or three times a year for 20 years and the last couple years I have to prepare myself ahead of time for the attitudes. Tonight we were treated like an inconvenience. The owner was most especially rude (per usual as we aren't regulars or known). We had to go to the bar to get our own drink refills. The waitress only checked on us once and it was blatantly obvious she was pushing us to leave. She was in such a huge hurry to clear or table she actually HIT a small child on the head with the pizza pan after removing it from our table. She apologized to the child but, maybe if she had some help it would not have happened. Not a single employee had a smile on their face, not one. I still LOVE the pizza though. I just wish they would treat people like they're happy to see them!
(2)Marci J.
Sausage and peppers fettuccine was outstanding. Stayed at Hampton Inn and followed their recommendation.
(5)Sara B.
Stopped for pizza on our way home. Called ahead and ordered a pie...Was hot and ready when we got there. Pros: Cold beer and hot pizza Cons: The pizza is paper thin and when we left we were still hungry
(3)Daniel J.
This is such a cool little restaurant, started almost 100 years ago now. The decor in this place is really cool I'm going to post some photos of the ceiling, not to mention the food is pretty banging too! I had a grilled chicken Caesar salad for lunch there and I have never seen croutons so big, and the Caesar dressing is homemade which is incredible! Friend of mine got the hot Italian sub and he said it was phenomenal as well. This is such a nice little place in the heart of Bloomington, if you're in town don't miss it for a quick lunch.
(4)Allen K.
Best place for a beer and pizza in town. I stop there every time that I am back in BN!
(5)John B.
Still great entries, still disappointing bread basket, still has great value carafe of wine & a salad that is nothing to write home about. Stopped in on a Sunday evening without reservations, won't do that again. We ended up at the bar and the bartender (we assume the owner) did not make us feel welcome. Definitely geared to the locals as he greeted them all by name. Not that he didn't take care of us, just the attitude left a lasting impression.
(3)Sean H.
I won't front at all - Lucca is LEGIT. My great-grandfather Jimmy Ryan called the owners friends - he went here all the time in his day and it's no doubt as good as it was then still today but I gotta make note of this: Tonight, I rolled in after one of Bloomington's lamer beer fests. I understand Lucca doesn't appreciate a once-a-year bozo coming in and acting like a nerd after a night of drinking; I GET it. What I DON'T get is me popping in, and accidentally bumping for into a server who had ZERO food or drink in her hands and her exclaiming"OH MY GOD" as if I had caused her to drop a priceless piece of art on the ground and then the manager or owner or whoever acting all annoyed and telling me to find my seat. REALLY? I've been coming here all my life. Just because there is a beer fest that brings a bunch of drunken nerds into your place, that gives you the right to act like I committed a federal crime by making some incidental contact with a server? Anyway, The pizza is as good as ever but the experience was lame. Come down to the Irish Circle in Wapella, folks. You won't be made to feel like a fool if you accidentally bump into someone. Pardon me. A thousand apologies for my indiscretion. Bartenders were cool though, glad to tip them well.
(5)Jean-Paul M.
It pains me to write this because I have loved this place for years. Something was immediately off from the beginning, the waitress was gone for very long periods of time and was apologizing to us and other tables for the wait. Where does she keep disappearing to, this is a small restaurant? Anyway, ordered cheese ravioli and drinks to start. Meat ravioli arrived and she argued with us that it's what we wanted. No, our table of five confirmed we were pretty clear about what we ordered. While waiting for our pizzas, some young kid went in and out of the tiny men's room. Not sure what happened in there but owner Tony was pissed about it as usual and made sure everyone was aware of it as he donned rubber gloves and yelled across the quiet restaurant. The wilted salads came with the sour dressing (can salad dressing 'turn'?). And then the pizza. Two were burnt to a crisp. The third one was underdone. She agreed that they were making a replacement for the worst of the burned one, and that I'd have to 'let her know' if mine was too burned to enjoy. I'm thinking, if it looks that bad you should have made the judgement call to replace mine as well. I watched her interact with and bus several nearby tables. She appeared very 'out of it' and was maybe just having a bad night. Owner Tony proceeded to belittle patrons who arrived without reservations and tell them he could 'maybe get them a table in 35 minutes or so'. Awful. Couldn't wait to leave.
(2)Kristi S.
They were popular on a Tuesday night, with an hour long wait. We had tickets for a show nearby and couldn't stay, but it smelled so amazing that thoughts of pizza haunted our evening. We returned at 10 PM to plenty of open tables. The pizza was good, and an impromptu barbershop chorus performance from the diners behind us added to the old time atmosphere.
(4)Malcolm C.
We love thin crust & tavern/bar ambiance. Service has always been good and pizza is delish. Recommended!
(4)Amanda K.
Never have I ever been so disappointed in a restaurant. Service was awful, and the manager was beyond rude. The food was decent, but nothing came out on time. We were supposed to get salads and breadsticks, which we had to ask for multiple times only to receive a few salads halfway through dinner. The staff and managers disgusting attitudes didn't help with the awful service, and I would not recommend dining here. Ever.
(1)Sean B.
Lucca Grill is a tradition in Bloomington. Either you love it or you hate it. As a kid my family didn't dine at Lucca, but as an adult I'm a regular. As an appetizer we ordered the Spinach Artichoke dip. It arrived at the table with a very hot temperature and was creamy. I know that this dip is a common appetizer at mediocre restaurants, but Lucca's is delicious. It's a perfect blend and the homemade chips are fresh with a great crunch. Pizza is the order on every visit. Our first choice is the A La Baldoni. It comes with savory sausage, pepperoni, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and pepperoncini. It's a great and filling pizza. Order the large and there's plenty to take home. (I make everyone order their own pizza so I can enjoy my leftovers later at home). I prefer the Meat Combo pizza when I'm not in the mood for a lot of vegetables on my pizza. The food arrives quickly. The restaurant is always busy. The service is better on the main floor. It seems to be either too hot or too cold on the second floor. There's a side entrance that allows you to go up to the second floor without going through the crowd in the bar area. They have a great selection of beer, too.
(5)Kevin K.
It's a local place that has a lot of history here. Over the years, I've enjoyed their pizza, including the a la Baldini, but the last few times we've been there, haven't been great. I'm not sure if they changed anything with the pizza, but the crust has been overdone and is sort of burnt-crispy with fewer toppings than usual. My kids ordered the mozzarella sticks the other night and it costs about $8 for 6 sticks. We left disappointed and felt like we spent way too much for what we got. Since we don't usually remember to make reservations, we usually get seated upstairs. As others have mentioned, the atmosphere up there is lacking, and recently I've noticed the floor up there doesn't seem level and seems to be sinking in parts. I really want it to be good based on previous experiences over the last 10 years, but the last few times we've been in there it hasn't been all that great.
(2)Todd B.
Best thin crust pizza in town. They'll even put the pizza in a box if you order takeout. The box makes bringing a pizza home in your car much more convenient
(5)Taylor A.
I'm not really sure how this place came to be the highest rated pizza place in Bloomington. The pizza was really thin, but was too crispy and not at all chewy like good pizza is supposed to be. The crust was almost cracker like. We were sat upstairs next to a massive HVAC unit. Why they seat people upstairs at all is beyond me. It really has a old house attic feel that didn't have any ambiance. Obviously this place is very popular with the locals, based on how packed it was, but I couldn't find any redeeming qualities to come back here. My quest for good pizza in Bloomington continues...
(2)Steve R.
Yeah. This is the joint to hit when you're in this town. Evidently been around for 100 years and I can see why. Great pizza, GREAT service, decent beers, good chicken parm. Spot on, the fam dug it, good for kids. Win.
(5)Z Z.
A staple to the area, been going since the beginning of my time, but was recently bummed when I overheard the pizza maker complaining about making gluten free pizzas. Never a good thing when you pay for a service and they complain/act pissed to do their job. Sorry to put you out..
(3)Tara L.
Called to make a reservation because my mom can't do stairs. Got right in which was nice! We got wings and 2 pizzas. The wings were nothing great at all but the pizzas were awesome! We will def return!!
(4)Darrell S.
Classic Bloomington Normal restaurant and bar. Seating downstairs or up and lots of nostalgia on the walls to look at. Italian theme and great appetizers, stuffed ravioli, antipasto plate. Thin crust pizza is the best you will find anywhere I love the Ala Baldini and the crust is always cooked to perfection in the 100 year old oven. Resonable prices and a good craft selection on tap one of my favorites!
(4)Andre B.
Best pizza in central Illinois. Period!!! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Great place to meet friends for an evening out.
(4)Supreet S.
Pizza was close to authentic wood clay oven pizzas.
(4)Suzanne T.
I think it's fantastic that they have gluten free pizza and pasta. However, gf pasta noodles have to be removed from boiling water more quickly so they don't fall apart. I was literally served a bowl of mush. The noodles were in 1" pieces and all stuck together in tasteless, unappetizing clumps. The meat sauce, which the extremely kind waitress described as "finer" than their other sauces was pretty tasteless and had a large piece of gristle in it. Also sampled cheese gf pizza. It was sweet and chewy. Not my idea of a good pie at all. I give 2 stars for the helpful waitress and for the fact that they are obviously trying. I like the divey atmosphere. For a moment I could forget I was stuck in a small Midwestern town wishing I was elsewhere.
(2)Derek S.
So I've never used yelp before but I had to download the app so I could write a review for this place. Honestly, the food was good and the prices were decent, but the service was absolutely horrible! It took over an hour to get our food. We had to ask multiple times for our appetizer which came with our meal. Our salads(some of them) came out after our dinner, along with 5 breadsticks for the 9 of us, which were supposed to be complimentary. We also had to wait forever for our second carafe of wine, because they only have one carafe at the restaurant. Then, when it came to splitting the bill, the waiter had absolutely no idea what he was doing. We asked for the manager, who is also apparently the owner and his pictures in the menu and on the wall in the frames. He was an absolute dooschebag! Super rude and talked down to us even though they messed up and we did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, I will never return here again and can only recommend that no one else come here as well.
(1)Dmitry P.
Great thin crust pizza. I grew up in NY and have been craving some good pizza. Lucca's was a pleasant surprise. The toppings are great as well.
(5)Melissa R.
Great place to go eat! The sandwiches are delicious and not overpriced. Great service.
(5)Andy B.
Enjoyed a delicious thin crust pizza, saus & mushroom, w a nice Merlot. The crust was amazing, I joked it's like biting into air, as there seems to be an air pocket between the top and bottom of it which is quite unique. Zesty sauce not really sweet but mighty tasty! Was Monday evening this week, place was jam-packed w folks enjoying good company and wonderful food. The Great Baldini, whose portrait hovers above the bar, opened this gem over 50 years ago and it's been going strong since. He did it right, and there's even a pizza named after him. The night I visited, was lucky enough to enjoy the music of a local group playing fiddle and Irish tunes, and also met some nice folks including Marie from Michigan and a couple from Chicagoland. I highly recommend Lucca's, where the atmosphere is as great as the pizza! Thanks Yelp!
(5)Pete W.
Friendly service but not good pizza for the price. ** note this rating is just on the pizza not the bar. Paid over 32 dollars for a large 2 item and a medium specialty. Half veggie -half cheese only. If the pizza was great I would have gladly paid that much. I was in town and wanted to try something other than a chain pizza place. So I ordered take out from there. By the name of the place - I thought it was a pizzeria not a bar that serves pizza. If you wanted to go out with friends it may have been a great place - but I am just judging based on the pizza. Very little cheese on the pizza and nothing special. Will probably stick to chain pizzas for awhile.
(2)Bob Z.
This place is excellent! Good atmosphere good service and very good pizza. Friendly helpful staff and a nice selection of beers on tap. Nice downtown location with off street parking. From the outside it looks like it should be a good place to be and it doesn't disappoint.
(4)Steve G.
Tradition is one thing but a good pizza at Lucca's is a sometimes thing I am thinking. My last one was burnt on the bottom, too dry on top, and missing one of two toppings ordered. Someone needs to have their eye on the "pies" and their makers. I was home for a quick visit, Lucca's for pizza was the one place, besides Avanti's, that I wanted to go...the pizza was a disappointment - I will go there for a beer at the bar but elsewhere for pizza next time. Family reminded me that if it is thin pizza Bloomington style...go to Tobins.
(2)Tracey P.
A family favorite and the place we take everyone that comes to visit. Excellent every time and you can't beat the atmosphere.
(5)Joe R.
I like Lucca mostly for its ambiance and decor. The pizza is okay, but not really worth the price.
(3)Cynthia K.
Once again "awesome pizza".....I have yet to have a bad experience with this place. A really busy night and the service was great- fast friendly!
(5)Samuel S.
I can't believe I've lived in Bloomington-Normal my whole life and just went to Lucca for the first time recently. I just carried out, so i don't feel as if I've really had the 'full experience' quite yet. I had a beer at the bar while I was waiting though. Staff I interacted with were very friendly. Best part of it all: the pizza is excellent. I definitely am a fan of thin, crispy crust and Luccas does it so well. Ordered the 'A La Baldini' and it was simply a great pizza. A minor disappointment: some of the slices in the middle were a bit less crispy, maybe a little underdone? But let's be honest: I still ate them and loved it. Only downside is it is a bit pricy in my opinion. A Large Pizza was every bit of $20.00. Seems like a really great place with a long history. I definitely look forward to coming here more often.
(4)Zach N.
When it comes to thin crust pizza in Bloomington, you can do a lot worse than Lucca Grill. It didn't blow me away, but it was good. Considering the pizza situation in this town, anything "good" tastes great in comparison to most other options. The downstairs bar area is awesome. Dimly lit, very towny feeling, and close. The staff is friendly and helpful, like they're actually happy to be there. I'm giving Lucca an extra star simply because of their great staff. Other than a few appetizers, I haven't really had much else on the menu. To be honest, I don't know if I'll ever get anything other than pizza from Lucca Grill, and I'm fine with that.
(4)Mike C.
Love this place more and more. Order the spinach/artichoke dip with a meatball in the middle. Change your life.
(5)Jeff D.
This review is solely based on Lucca's pizza...here we go. Jesus christ. If you haven't tried Lucca's pizza, you have to. Frankly, I'm not a fan of thin crust. I grew up in the 80's and 90's when thick crust pepperoni was the thing. However, as an adult, I've realized there's a difference between what is good pizza and what is great pizza. Good pizza for me is frozen, Papa John's, Domino's and Pizza Hut (even tho the Hut is like Taco Bell and you deuce 30 minutes after eating). When I want serious adult pizza? I hit up Lucca. Here's the thing. The crust is almost cracker thin. But there's something in the dough. Almost a smokey element. It's amazing. Second thing I can tell you about Lucca...don't just order a single topping (i.e. plain cheese, only pepperoni or half sausage and half mushroom). I have to admit, I love tomato sauce so much, I usually prefer just cheese pizza, or maybe a pepperoni. But, let me tell you, you can't do that at Lucca cuz you'll leave and you'll say to yourself, "Ugh, that sucked and was expensive"...and then you'll frown. Basically, whatever they add to their dough? It compliments MANY toppings. The more toppings, the better it is. My best recommendation is to try the A La Baldini. It does come with pepperocinis and my arch nemesis (the mushroom) on it, but you can ask for those to be taken off or take them off yourself as they're not chopped up. The salty and savory of many toppings plays into the odd yet delightful cracker-ey dough. Taylor A...I mean no disrespect, but I'd love to take you back to Lucca. I feel like you should give it a second chance. :o)
(5)Sabra B.
Stay away. Rude & horrible service!!! I've given this place multiple chances & over & over I am let down & disappointed. Every single person who works here acts like they hate their lives and like you're doing them a disservice for being there. Save your time & money and go somewhere where your presence is welcomed. Even trying to call for a reservation you will get put on hold for 5 minutes and given extremely ignorant service. Give them a call and see for yourself. Very unimpressed and let down..
(1)T. J.
I've quickly became a fan of Lucca's! Not only do they have a cool bar and friendly staff but they've got an excellent pizza! Some of the best thin crust pizza I've had. You also can't go wrong by ordering garlic bread with cheese. Salads... Pretty darn good too! They've also got a great beer selection.
(5)Dynae T.
I'm new to Bloomington, so I've only been here once. I had several people recommend it to me, so I thought it was worth a try. Turns out it was! I work at Monical's pizza, which also has thin crust pizza, so I didn't expect it to top Monical's. I was wrong. I don't think I could decide between the two of them. Lucca's pizza was really awesome. It had just the right amount of crisp to it, and not too many toppings. I ordered the Lucca Surpreme and split it with two other people and we couldn't finish it. Even though it's thin crust, it's definitely filling. Also, for an appetizer we had the fried ravioli. They weren't mind blowing, but they were decent. No complaints. I was surprised when I ordered my drink that they didn't have Coke or Pepsi. They actually had RC products, which I wasn't too crazy about at first, but when I got my drink it tasted just like Coke, so that's no big deal. Our meal was a little pricey, but overall I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a nice hometown feel pizza place.
(4)KJ V.
Great atmosphere! Great pizza! Great sandwiches! Thin crust pizza that is crunchy and delicious! The sandwiches are also great. I recommend The Lois. Cool decor. A lot of Old things that are very neat. Tony, the guys who runs/owns the place, couldn't be a nicer guy too. Great service. They take reservations, which is also nice!!
(4)Gail W.
We were in Bloomington on business Saturday and decided on pizza for supper. We went to Lucca Grill based on Yelp reviews. The building is downtown and very charming. It was about 5:30 and most of the tables were full or reserved, but Tony said there was a table for two left upstairs. We trooped up the steep stairs and were seated promptly. The fire escape door was propped open with a fan in front of the door -- AC did not appear to be working upstairs. The room was more stuffy than hot. Our waitress came quickly and took our drink orders. It took her a bit to get back to take our dinner orders, but the pizzas came fairly quickly after we ordered. My husband had the A La Baldini with no cheese (lactose intolerant) and he enjoyed it. I thought the toppings were sort of skimpy, but it was his pizza. I had the Create Your Own with Ham, Bacon, and Black Olives (and cheese). It was very good. I'm partial to thin crusted pizza and theirs is perfect. The place was really full by the time we finished and it took the waitress too long to bring our bill and then pick up the credit card. Other tables seemed to be visiting and enjoying the wait, but it was hot in there by then and I was ready to head out!! We would go back....probably not in the summer, though, unless we are positive the AC is working well.
(4)Joseph P.
Excellent, crispy-thin pizza in an old-fashioned bar. Whenever I'm in Bloomington I stop by Lucca for a little pizza and a beer. Everyone in here is friendly, happy to make recommendations on the menu, and even share the history of the restaurant and the area. Sure, you can order up a pizza to the hotel, but you can do that at home. Get out, explore downtown, then have dinner at Lucca. See you there...
(5)Kevin R.
My fiancee and I can destroy a large veggie special in about ten minutes. This pizza is really good. I recommend calling in advance for reservations - especially if you want a table downstairs, which has way better ambiance than upstairs. The real deal, this place.
(5)GoodEats M.
Order pizza to go. Baldini wasn't so bad. It was crowed. Would come back for dining to try more entrees.
(4)Carrie A.
Happened upon a real treasure. We were looking at the Yelp offerings when we came to Lucca's, we decided to stop. So glad we did. Pizza was excellent and the baked ziti was outstanding. Lots of great atmosphere. Thursday night, and the place was packed. Service was very good. Will definitely go back next time we are in the area!
(5)Lisa L.
I'd heard Lucca had gluten free pizza and pasta and was excited to try it. I have celiac disease so called ahead to make sure they could make the dishes without risk of contamination with the gluten containing dishes. It is not. They told me they did not make the dishes in a separate area and that they use the same utensils as the dishes with gluten.
(1)Mark B.
Wow. Originally from BNL but never been here! Good pizza. Salad mediocre. What a traditional small city establishment....
(4)John S.
Never had the pizza - but noticed that many other diners indulging. Oatmeal stout (on tap) and italian sausage marinara. Side salad. Nice meal. I'll try the pizza next time.
(3)Elise M.
Great local place for awesome pizza! I highly recommend the al a baldini pizza. On the evenings and the weekends, there can be a long wait so plan ahead and make a reservation!
(5)Tristan B.
I tell people from Champaign that Lucca's is like Jupiter's without the pool. Good thin crust pizza in a historic building. Lucca has a cramped dining area downstairs and a less cramped, but less historic dining area upstairs. The upstairs dining area is only open for dinner and requires you to either walk all the way through the main down stairs area or enter through the back door. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal and get made quickly enough for one to have plenty of time to make it back to the office. The pizza is sometimes a little overly greasy and the sauce isn't as good as the sauce at Jupiter's in Champaign, but I've disliked the pizza here. Everything else on the menu is pretty much fried food of some sort. The chicken livers were okay. The waitstaff has always been very friendly and attentive.
(4)Debbie F.
Absolutely the best thin crust pizza in central illinois. The crust is flaky and buttery, and the pizza is always perfectly done. If you come on a weekend, be prepared for a wait unless you eat slightly off of normal dining hours. Great pizza, friendly service, clean restaurant.
(5)Talisa G.
This was might first visit but it won't be my last! We didn't know to make reservations, but we were seated downstairs anyway. It was early on a Friday. Now, the food.. The side salad can be dismissed, ice berg lettuce in a plastic container, but the House dressing was so good, I wished I'd dunked my bread in it rather than pour it on lettuce. I let the waitress pick my main entree, Baked Ziti or Salsicci Pasta. She chose the Salsicci and wow! It was amazing! Swimming in butter, two tubes of (not house made) pasta stuffed with tasty meat, covered with house-made tomato sauce. Sssoooo delicious! I recommend that pasta and cannot wait to eat here again.
(4)Rex L.
This is the home of the best, thinnest crust, pizza ever. I usally go with sausage and pepperoni, but I have ordered the cheese pizza as an appetizer as their dinners are great too. Decent beer selection. Located in the historic downtown area of Bloomington and has been here forever.
(5)Sam B.
Been a while, but stepping inside feels like I was just here yesterday. Baldini pizza for the win.
(5)Mike N.
Great pizza, comfortable atmosphere, friendly owner / operator, and lunch specials. 100 year old pizza oven. Highly recommend
(5)Van M.
From the sheer number of reviews here you can already tell that it's a place you should check out. Most people I know LOVE Lucca's. Personally, I think the pizza is okay. The best part about Lucca's is the atmosphere. It's corner location, dim lighting, old decorations and bar give it a city feel, which is rare in this town. On busy nights they will open up the upstairs. This is also where they'll put you if you have a big group. Unfortunately, the ambiance on the second floor is complete 180 from the main floor. When you're on the second floor it feels like you should be celebrating a six-year-old's birthday party. For that reason, I would recommend going here with a group of four or fewer on busy nights and eight or fewer on slow nights. If you're just visiting, this may also be a nice place to grab a beer and not feel creepy. It's a relaxed vibe is what I'm trying to say.
(4)Tim C.
Five stars...Baldini...all the food is good...nice beer selection, seating is limited but it is worth whatever wait you might have, tho I have never had one. Yum!
(5)Pete R.
In all honesty I feel like I have to come clean in admitting that over the years we have gotten to know the management team at Lucca pretty well. Johnny and Tony are now like old friends to us, but that is part of the point here. Especially at the bar (where we actually prefer to sit unless we're with a big crowd), going to Lucca is like going to a buddy's house, a buddy with an large classic pizza oven - circa 1940's - that still kicks butt and takes names! Not only has their cracker crust converted this Chicago style deep dish lover, their appetizers (fried ravs and believe it or not, parmesan wings) and entrees (canneloni) are top-notch and the beer selection is a small but very well-represented one. Its because of these things we been going a couple times a month for the last several years and at this point we feel like extended family. Especially with the recently remodeled upstairs and the broadening of the menu to include new items (like the wings and the desert), give our freinds at Lucca Grill a chance to show you why!
(5)Melissa D.
Best pizza ever. And yes, EVER. I love it. Crispy, tons of ingredients, cooked perfectly and right in front of you. :) Get the Baldini. You can thank me later. :) Doesn't take too long either. I love the ambiance of this place. The staff is so friendly and I feel like I'm at Cheers because everyone in the whole place is so nice. We like to sit at the bar and the bartender is so sweet. I love the decorations in Lucca. High ceilings. Vintage memorabilia on the wall. Great atmosphere. It is a bit more expensive than some places around town, but because it is soooo good and worth every penny. Great drink specials throughout the week. Yum.
(5)Azsure D.
What a nice evening. Lucca Grill offered delightful service in a charming setting. We very much enjoyed dining there. We had the pizza. It was thin as paper with a yummy crust. I would have preferred more toppings, but my husband thought it just right. He claims it is his favorite thin crust in the Bloomington area.
(3)Bob K.
I don't see what the fuss is about this place. It's old and there isn't a dish here that is amazing. Just ok.
(3)Chef B.
If you need a Yelp review to help make the decision about whether to go to Lucca Grill for some of the finest thin crust pizza you'll ever have . . . then okay. Here's your review. It's tremendous. If you're going for the first time and you don't order a pizza, I don't know what to tell you. Stop getting cute and just order what they're known for. I'm sure their italian dishes are fine, but why bother? The pizza is the star of the show. Going to Lucca and not getting pizza is like going to Six Flags, skipping the rides and just go to the snack bar. If going for dinner, call ahead to see if you can get a spot downstairs. That's where you'll get the full effect of Lucca and it's old-school charm. The upstairs is pretty sterile. One of the best pints you'll get in all of town and the service is always friendly, fast and if you're lucky, a little sassy. Best thin crust you'll find anywhere in a 100 mile radius. It's only challenger may be Agatucci's in Peoria. But Aggies can't touch Lucca's environment, bar and overall experience.
(5)Megan K.
I love Lucca - best thin crust in town - and it's usually my first recommendation when I have guests visiting from out of town. This past weekend, I had company in town and suggested Lucca as a local treat. We called ahead for a table, and were glad we thought of it because the place was packed. Fortunately, our table was waiting. It took 90 minutes to get our pizza, which seemed like a lot. Yes, we had appetizers, but overall it felt like we were waiting for ages. The thing that prompted the review, however, is that no one on staff seemed to be watching the door. I saw several people come in, stand by the counter (clearly waiting for someone to point them to a table) and no one on staff ever talked to them or even made eye contact. In one case it looked like a server (dark hair, ponytail, glasses) was making her way over to a couple at the door. She had just cleared a table and was returning items to their places along the bar. Finally she dropped off a pizza tray, looked at the couple who was waiting (and clearly thought she was coming to talk to them) and then turned her back and walked away! This couple immediately walked out, as did three others I saw try to get the staff's attention in the 2 hours I was there. Yes, the place was very busy, but the staff should at least acknowledge and TALK to the people who walk in! Anyway, the food is amazing and usually the staff is great. I was just really surprised at my experience this weekend and hope this doesn't mean the place is going downhill.
(2)Shaun B.
Second best pizza in town...a close runner-up to Tobins. When we are in town and have time, my wife and I stop in for lunch. Greta atmosphere and great pizza.
(5)Eric J.
A la baldini!
(5)Daniel F.
This is a good choice in an area that while improving, is still full of chains. This place has been around for 75 years, great tin ceilings and old-school atmosphere. I have the misfortune of being in town and eating here at peak times, so I am usually stuck at the bar. While that may make things cramped, it usaully means better service. Thin crust pizza is the go-to thing here (salads I have had are forgettable). I am a fan of the nicely seasoned sausage, and the cheesecake with strawberries, if not homemade (not sure), is of good quality. Noise lvel can be high, but family and solo diner friendly. Recommended.
(4)Dan N.
After I realized my first 2 dining options in the Bloomington/Normal area were closed on Monday, I "settled" on Lucca Grill. Walking into Lucca Grill, my immediate impression was that this was WAY more of a dive than I expected. But after settling in at a seat on the bar and looking around, I realized that this place was actually pretty cool. High, vintage ceilings and old photo's of the restaurant and owners on the wall give this place a good, small-town feel. As for the food, the pizza was awesome! I had the Baldini pizza--the cracker thin crust and overloaded fresh toppings made this one of the best (and unique) pizzas that I've had in quite some time. I ordered a small and I was able to finish it myself--mostly due to the pure deliciousness of the pizza, as opposed to my hunger. I also tried their "World-Famous" fried chicken livers--I'm not sure how they earned that title, but I would NOT recommend. That said, the pizza was amazing enough to earn this place a solid 4 stars!
(4)Kim J.
I probably should have yelped this place for recommendations before I came, because I don't think I ordered right, and the stuff I had was decidedly average. The fiance and future in-laws took me to Lucca Grill for dinner on a Saturday night. The space is small and cramped, but not in a good way - the waitress kept knocking into me no matter how I positioned my chair. We all ordered various pasta dishes, which all came with the salad. The salad was kinda gross - plain old iceberg lettuce and a tomato slice. The pasta dishes ranged from average to good - I had the pasta primavera and probably could have done better myself at home. The FMIL had ravioli in pesto that she thought were good. Fiance had lasagna, which he seemed to like (but then again, he commented that it's pretty hard to screw up lasagna). The FFIL had a cannoli-like dish that he also seemed to like. They have a decent beer list and a full bar. Service was ok - not fantastic but not bad either. I won't write Lucca off yet, but I'll be sure and have pizza next time.
(3)Dana A.
great beer and service. Food was good-
(4)Tim J.
Went after a hockey game with some friends. One of them wanted the pizza to be cut differently than they normally do (as I recall, they do squares and she wanted slices or it could have been the other way around, but it was such a trivial deviation that I don't remember). Anyway, the waitress was firm that such a modification was utterly impossible in every way. Their SOPs for cutting pizza are as immutable as the laws of physics. Their way or the highway, I guess. Other than that, the pizza was pretty good thin crust pizza. I think they use an old oven (thats good!), or at least it tastes that way. I thought they had a decent selection of bottle beer, and it did not take too long to go from sit to check. The place was not busy, but the server seemed a little overwhelmed with the half-dozen or so small groups. The decor is great, and the aroma of the place is intoxicating. Prices are high, but excusable based upon location and decor. 4 stars for the restaurant, minus one for the stubborness. Also, they close early, even on Fri & Sat nites. WTF?
(3)Eric G.
Definitely go there for the pizza and the atmosphere. It's a small place but some of the best pizza in town. Super thin crust that unlike most other places does not taste like the cardboard under it. I won't go as far to say it's the best pizza I have ever had but it is top 3. I especially like sausage and black olives for toppings and have yet to try anything else to list. No need to venture out when the pizza is so good.
(4)Albert H.
Cracker thin crust, top notch cheese, and tangy sauce make this one of the best pizzas in Bloomington/Normal. They also have a good selection of craft beers to pair with the pizza, and for me there's nothing like a great pizza with a Bavarian Hefe-Weizen to wash it down. Really this location is more like a bar than a restaurant, so I'm not so sure how friendly it would be with children. Nice downtown location too.
(4)Meghan B.
Pretty darn solid. Crust is a little thin for my taste, but it was really good pizza at a really fair price. Add to it the history of the place, the pizzeria smell when you walk in the door, the great draft beer selection, and the friendly service. And Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)Jamie M.
Lucca's is a Bloomington instituion for pizza. It's not always the best pizza, it's not always the worst pizza, but it's pizza with tradition, pizza with heritage. It's the ultimate in super-thin-man-I'm-hungry-and-just-ate-half-a-Âlarge crust 'za. I've been eating at Lucca's for years - since I first moved to Bloomington in 1995. Back then it was awesome. Then it slipped in terms of both customer service and quality of the food. The pizza was coming out undercooked or overcooked on a consistent basis. Now, my opinion is that Lucca's has been on the right uphill track for the last year. The pizza is once again consistent and delicious. Customer service is still a bit up and down, but I would say more up than down. If you have never been in before and you actually like stuff on your pizza, the Ala Baldini is a must try. It's the pizza they are known for!
(4)country b.
First timer last night, got the Baldini pizza. Tasty and delicious. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying out other menu items. Recommended!
(4)David C.
The food at Lucca Grill has always been better than average for me. I read with great interest Amy C's review and I have to say I do not love the service at Lucca. The building is historic as is the bar--however, the main dining area is very crowded. I don't know if its a good thing or bad to be sent upstairs to the overflow dining area. It is much more spacious, but they spent exactly $0 on trying to make that space as comfortable and appealing as the downstairs. That room upstairs is an embarassment.
(3)Frank E.
This is one of those places like Jimmy John's that everyone seems to absolutely love but is really just "meh." My only real experience with the place is their pizza. Their pizza is ok. Nothing special. If you happen to be in the area, check it out. Nothing to go out of your way for though. At least not from my experiences.
(2)Brant A.
The Baldini pizza and a Guinness -- and I am happy. Seriously still one of the best pizzas I've ever had. And great atmosphere as well.
(5)Edward B.
Try the Al Baldini Special! This place is where both locals and politicians come to mingle. Great food & bat.
(5)Trevor R.
Good. Good. Pizza. Cool atmosphere too. Makes you feel like you're not actually in bloomington
(4)Ryan W.
Definitely my favorite pizza place in Bloomington/Normal. The thin crust pizza with fresh toppings is delicious every time I am there. I also love their breadsticks and the cheese dipping sauce. They also have some great beers on tap. A definite bonus is the atmosphere in Lucca. The downstairs is small and it is a tight fit, but the old decorations and bar make the downstairs a great dining experience. On busy nights the upstairs dining room is opened for dining, but it is not nearly the same atmosphere. So, if you are going on a weekend night, you may want to call ahead to get a reservation for downstairs.
(5)Vicki T.
I had my first ever "pizza pie" here in the 1950's with my family and have been going back ever since!! My dad was a democrat croney of the Baldinis and we went there often...now my husband and I can be found there nearly every Monday night having red wine or a beer and an a la Baldini Pizza...sometime we throw in an order of deep fried mushrooms just for good measure! I know they have killer lasagne and do a right fine burger too! I cannot say enough about Lucca Grill, a historic landmark in downtown Bloomington!
(5)Russ C.
Another great downtown local bar and grill, along with Rosie's and Reality Bites. Unlike the latter, Lucca is open Monday, and is open late (kitchen closes at 10). The service is friendly and the food is very good. The pizza is excellent - flaky thin crust with fresh toppings, and the sauce isn't overwhelming. The pasta is not that great, but a good deal (1/2 order of pasta and salad for $5). The Sausage and Peppers is good. Not only are they open on Mondays, but actually had live music (open mic). Overall, very solid, and they serve Shlitz to boot.
(4)Kristi R.
I used to love Lucca's pizza, but I will not set foot in the place anymore. Last November, five of my friends and I went there for a later supper. It was crowded, but nothing too unusual for a Saturday night. The waitress first told us it was going to be a half hour wait, even though we could clearly see three or four tables open. Then she said we could sit there, but we couldn't pull the tables together. ??? She was snippy the whole time, obviously not wanting to wait on us. Finally one of the busboys told us we most certainly could push the tables together so we sat down. We finally got our drinks and orders taken, and after quite a while got our very lukewarm food. Then our waitress stopped waiting on us. She stopped at every other table but not ours. We had to go to the bar to get our pop refills and when we tried to flag her down, she would look at us, turn away, and walk the other direction. Finally we got our check and it was, of course, wrong. She had charged us for items we didn't order and not charges us for other items. She put it all on one check, never bothering to ask us if we needed to pay separate. It took us a half hour to get it worked out, and we had to talk to a manager to do it because she was too dense to get it right even when I wrote it all out for her. By this time we were peeved and we certainly weren't going to leave her one penny in tip. We had tried to be civil up to that point but no more. She was nasty to us the entire time. I might've chalked this up to one stupid person who needed to be fired, but as we were walking out the door, the guy making pizzas yelled B****!!! at us twice, as loud as he could so the whole place could hear! One of my friends went back in and had a little chat with the manager who said he'd take care of it, but he never did a thing. I wrote an e-mail to the owner and never heard a word back. As a fellow downtown business owner, I find not only the actions of his employees appalling but his inaction just as appalling. We didn't do a thing to deserve that treatment and I will advise everyone I know not to patronize that kind of establishment. They could have the best pizza in town (which they don't) but they won't see a penny from me or any of my friends or relatives.
(1)K S.
Best pizza in town! Great beer selection and ambience is fun. Try any of their pizza's... they taste like heaven.
(5)Kelly M.
One of the oldest restaurants in Bloomington...you get exactly what you see....good pizza in an incredibly busy atmosphere. Not the type of sit down romantic place for an anniversary, but perfect place to go and meet friends before/after a show.
(5)B L.
We are from out of town & have only been here once but we had a good time. Probably should've made a res. (It was Sat. about 8PM) It was really busy & told a wait of 30-45 min. but then the manager said he could get us in upstairs in 15. We sat at the bar & not long later a table downstairs opened up. My husband loved the pizza, the wings are great, my chicken alfredo was very good also. See some reviews about bad service, it was really good on our visit. The guy making pizzas greeted us when we walked in, our waitress was fast & checked on us, our food didn't take long at all even though it was packed, & the bartender got right to us too. It is very narrow & a tight space. Glad we got downstairs although we didn't get to see the upstairs. I like busy atmospheres like that, good for people watching & fun for our date as we weren't looking for something fancy.
(4)Andrew K.
Lucca's Grill is the best pizza in town, in my book. It is a wonderful place at which to become a regular.
(5)John T.
Most probably the best thin crust pizza in town. They must be doing something right, they've been around since the 1930s. While the pizza is great, the salads and sandwiches are only so-so. I once ordered a salad that was ice cold and served in a plastic container right out of a refrigerator.
(4)Lawrence T.
This place is everything that's great about blo/no. The history, the food, the atmosphere. It is what you want in a mom and pop.
(5)Bailey S.
Let me start by saying I am a server so the food industry is nothing new to me. With that, This was an insanely terrible dining experience for me and my party of six. We went to Lucca's this evening in an attempt at some good pizza. Found on Yelp accompanied by some good reviews. Was greeted with a stone faced woman and told the only seats were at the bar. Happily took our seats at at the bar and preceded to listen to the bartender/manager Elizabeth standing directly in front of us on the phone, discussing how insanely busy they were and how six people (us) just walked in and sat down. I'm not sure if she thought we weren't paying attention when she said the "40 Jehovah's witnesses upstairs Just got their food and we close in an hour" but the entire conversation was wildly inappropriate and rude to say the least. Needless to say we decided to not dine in and will absolutely never go back.
(1)Scott M.
Love lucca so much. The waitresses are hit and miss. Sometimes good sometimes your better off going up to the bar yourself. The pizza is quite possibly the best ever, very fresh ingredients and cooked perfectly just about every time. They have a good selection of beers on tap and the bartenders are extremely nice. A+++++
(5)Amanda R.
I just moved to Bloomington a month ago and I've already eaten at Lucca Grill 5 times. The pizza is fantastic and the atmosphere is great. What Dodd V. calls run down, I call soulful. Seriously, this is a pizza joint with a soul. It's been in business since 1936 and many of the original fixtures remain, (like the beautiful tin ceiling) but everything appears to be very well maintained and clean. I think I'd cry if they ever remodeled. Our servers have always been fantastic- very friendly and they've never messed up our order.
(5)Kelly K.
This is my favorite pizza of all time. I have 30+ years of pizza-eating experience, and nothing has ever topped Lucca. I live in Chicago, but deep-dish pizza does nothing for me. I have always preferred a thin, crispy crust. Thin? Easy to find. Crispy, flaky, cracker-like texture? Not so much. My anniversary is coming up in October and I've told my husband I want a trip down to Bloomington just for this pizza. Seriously. Get in the car by 11, be down there by 1:30 or so, have lunch, drive back home. It's totally worth it to me. Even my husband, a Chicago-style pizza lover, was completely impressed. Also, their fried mushrooms are hot little balls of bliss.
(5)Edwin L.
This place is great if you can find a place downstairs. Good thin cracker crust, but nothing that will blow you away especially with the price. The downstairs is really cool and lots of history, the upstairs has a bit of an odd atmosphere. If you are stopping through Bloomington, it is definitely a destination place.
(3)Jessica S.
Great thin crust pizza, try the veggie lovers, its fantastic. Oh and you can order Schlitz in a bottle. Yeah. The atmosphere downstairs is the best but its teeny tiny so you might end up sitting upstairs. They are one of the ONLY places in Btown to take reservations so make them and sit downstairs. Some great beers on tap if roughing it with Schlitz isn't your style. Fantastic choice to eat if you're heading out to the coliseum or just want something in your belly before bar hopping the downtown circuit.
(4)Dodd V.
Run down tavern with great pizza. When I was a young kid my dad took me there nearly weekly for a the pizza and it has not changed to this day. The place is a typical tavern atmosphere (there is an upstairs dining area that is pretty boring if you prefer) and not really much to look at, but the pizza is the best around. There are just a few places in B/N that I like the pizza and this is one of them. The service is so/so but then again, what do you expect going to a tavern for dinner. Go for the great pizza and accept the atmosphere and ok service. The pizza is worth the trip.
(4)