Lucca Bar & Grill

We rolled into this quaint town and stopped here on a whim. We were seated outside immediately and my wife had the fish & chips and I had the «linguini „frutti di mare“», which has octopus, shrimp, clams, snapper, white wine, tomatoes & basil. Both entrees were excellent. I also had a side of green beans with pancetta (the portion size was a joke for the six bucks I paid for it, but it was tasty). The atmosphere was nice, despite the occasional boomin’ system rolling down 1^st Street, but the prices were not so nice (that’s why i deducted a star). Overall, it’s still a great place for a pretty good meal.

This is now our favorite restaurant in Benicia. I am not really a hamburger fan, except for here. The hamburgers are the best I have eaten in the Bay Area. The chicken under a brick is also excellent. The décor is a bit dark. Black walls make it a bit difficult for this 76 year old to see, and I wish they had more Spanish and Italian wines on the menu, or at least wines that are less alcoholic, but I still love going to Lucca’s. We will be going again on Sunday for their prime rib, and I am really looking forward to it.

Came to visit for the first time and had brunch after church. The food was yummy and the service was excellent. Even the coffee was delish! Some brand from Berkeley as told by our waiter. I didn’t get his name but he was pleasant, friendly, and took good care of us that Sunday morning. We were seated outdoors for a family of 6 adults and 2 kids. The day was beautiful, a little breezy but the fresh air was refreshing sitting under the outdoor umbrellas. My family and I will come back for dinner next time.

Finally checked out this place for a Saturday evening outing.
The place was not super packed but it was kind of busy. There was no wait but they did ask us where we wanted to sit, and we said inside. Outside looked booked, and they asked if it was ok to sit in the back by the bar. We said sure. Don’t sit back here warning if you want a peaceful dinner and conversation. It is quite loud and definitely more like a bar. But hey we were ok with it.
We asked for 2 cokes and some wings to start the night. The cokes and yes I care were nice and full of carbonation (hate flat soda), and the wings were 1lb worth of chicken sauce and bone. They came with napkins and wet naps too! They were super tasty and had a good amount of meat on them.
We split the Lucca Burger with cheddar and fries. The fries were large steak cut and were done perfectly, the Burger itself was probably more suitable for a large adult than to split. It was not huge but it was tasty and cooked flawlessly.
The prices seemed fair other than the 6 dollar small Caesar ordered. Perhaps it was just my taste buds but I immediately removed the anchovies and I was not a fan of the dressing. It was not horrible but I just was not a fan. And note I mean prices for what we ordered. I saw some other items for dinner that looked pricey, but I cant quote the size and flavor of those.
Now the place itself kicks ass, its much larger than I thought. Also our waiter was on point. He was a great waiter, he was fast, friendly, asked how it was, from the wings to the burger, and refills were fast and abundant.
Will NOT be coming back.
I have to admit, I had a pleasant experience. But after reading fellow Unilocaler reviews who did not, and the lack of professionalism and respect from the owner wow.
There are too many great spots in Benicia coupled with great staff and ownership. Minus 1 for poor management. Do you really want bad publicity from top tier elites :)

The food is amazing but the staff and atmosphere have just gotten worse and worse. My girls and I went in for dinner and cocktails. Our food was amazing but as soon as the food was delivered to us the server dropped our bills. She never came back and refilled our water (which were all empty), and didn’t ask if we wanted another cocktail (again we were out). Half way through our meal I had to use the restroom and ended up walking past our server who I asked if she would get us refills. She informed me she was going home soon. I asked if there was someone else who would be taking care of us and she said yes. But why did we need to know she was leaving in the first place and did this justify why she dropped our check so early, and never checked back with us? Then at the end of our meal I asked about dessert but was told that the kitchen was closed. It was 9:20pm and they close at 9pm, but the restaurant still had quite a few patrons in it. It definitely felt like we weren’t welcome there and they were trying to get rid of us. We paid our bill and left. As much as I love the food, I have to question whether I will go back here. This is not the 1^st time we have had terrible service there. If you eat in the bar, just know you will be completely ignored once you order one cocktail. If you want water, food, or another cocktail you will have to flag down the bartender (even though your at the bar) because they can’t be bothered to check in with you.
Lucca has too many younger employees who lack formal server training and basic customer service skills. I was a server for about 10 years of my life and the way I’m treated at Lucca makes me think that I’m at Denny’s.

The food here is great. Come for my first time a week ago, Mark was so wonderful we came back to try the bucket of chicken. That was also delicious. Food is excellent.
Service is another story, everyone seems to be all over the place. Except Mark, honestly I wish the establishment would let him wait on tables, he’s attentive, kind and knows what’s he’s doing.

The plain fact that your responses to negative feedback here and on Facebook are juvenile and unprofessional is reason enough for me to never visit Luccas again. Your food is mediocre and very overpriced. Add the slow service from the kitchen to your childish behavior and your restaurant a waste of time and money. They are so many wonderful food choices in Benicia that truly care about their customers.
Thank you for proving my point!

It is true! The service sucks but in the end, we got our meals for free. Waitresses… please pay attention to your tables. Especially if there are only 2 other groups dining in there!

Hella horrible and way overpriced. So many other options. Limited menu

Wonderful spot in historic Downtown Benicia. Stopped in prior to my video shoot today to ask for directions to the Benicia Arsenal, and the very kind and helpful hostess did not hesitate to help me and gave me perfect directions, so when we wrapped up the shoot, I knew exactly where I wanted to come feed my hungry belly and star actress!
We headed back Downtown to Lucca’s to grub. And we did indeed!
Food was served fresh and hot very timely after ordering.
I had the simply scrumptious deep fried fish and Chios platter. Expertly fried real cod, excellent fries! Awesome dips (3). Great meal.
My dinner mate and classmate Haleina had the pasta dish called Buccatini, which she devoured, so I safely assumed was just as excellent as mine.
We were stuffed and ready to drive back to our men in Pleasanton and get foot tubs after a hard days work.
Thoroughly enjoy our meal at this waterfront diner.
It has great servers, our gal was great, and the décor is bold, yet simple.
I love the big red table in the middle that seats 10+ people, just like my childhood kitchen!
Will come again next time I have a photo shoot in Benicia.

Simply dreadful. I’d be hard pressed to come up with a worse dining experience in Benicia.

An evening at Lucca?
1. Couples seated after us got their food first. Really?
2. Waiter (Debbie) didn’t even acknowledge until we summoned Hostess. (Young lady. Very nice)
3. When Debbie gets to our table she tells us that she didn’t know she was assigned to our table. Really? You waited on couple before us at same table yes???
4. Debbie came to our table maybe twice. We weren’t a priority.
5. Half hour maybe longer to get our food.
6. I’m a big tipper and don’t ever complain but waiter didn’t get tip. First time I haven’t tipped in 20 years.
7. If there was a problem with staffing levels let somebody know.
8. I won’t eat here again.

ADDENDUM: was waiting for a smart ass cheeky response from management and got it! Check out other management responses on other low reviews but no response for the positives reviews, GREAT marketing strategies. Dear management, lighten up and take the punches of this business like a professional and listen to your customers. Otherwise thanks for the laugh. And yes I will go abroad as I do help manage a restaurant in Singapore. Cheers ;)
Review:
Honestly.this place is a joke with their prices. I ordered the risotto with ham and it was literally a small bowl of risotto and a square of ham on the side= $ 20 (not including tax). 28 day aged steak was a small cut, definitely one of the less spectacular steaks we’ve tasted, but definitely not the cheapest≠$ 24.
Not sure what this place is trying to pass itself off as. As a foodie who eats out frequently in the San Francisco area and abroad even these prices are considered high for the ridiculously small amount of food I got and for something that didn’t wow. And let’s face it, Benicia isn’t a kinda Michelin star place so what’s up with that? Bit annoyed as this was not our first time at this place, but noticed the high prices and the lack of size and flavor of the foods.
One extra star added for the nice servers and cute décor.
Verdict– maybe turn down your price from pretentious to practical. There is much more potential in your menu and creative dishes. Til then I will only be back for the bucket of fried chicken. I’d recommend others to save your money and make the trek out to the city for real good food and good portions that are worth the price.

Awesome find today! We always see this place when we drive on 1^st street. It’s a little place located on the corner of 1^st and W E Street. Patio seating is available on the side of the restaurant. Came here around 11:45am. There were a few seats left but when noon came around, this place got packed.
They had a urban chic décor, brick wall and fancy glass looking over the kitchen. I loved the LUCCA red painting on the wall.
The hostess was friendly and «Chris» our server was also super nice! He always checked on us and made sure we are ok.
Food was grrrreeaaaat! Really awesome find at our local joint. We ordered steamed class layed on garlic sauce with charred bread– tasty and delicioso! As an entrée we got fish and chips– our server said fish was always fresh and not frozen. The batter was thin tempura like batter, it was served with yummy steak fries! I also heard that their burgers are the best in town. Can’t wait to try it next time!

What a disaster of a night! The kitchen was WAY off, truly spoiling our evening out. I’ve been traveling and wanted to go out. A cascade of failures from the kitchen made this a horrible experience (though Eric was the reason this got two stars instead of just one).
We made a reservation (HIGHLY recommended since this small place fills quickly) and we were anticipated and welcomed upon our arrival. We were shown to a small table. Our waitress, call her «T,» was friendly without smiling. We were brought water (by different staff) and our drinks took a little while to get out of the bar, brought by further different wait-​staff.
Chronology is important as the sequence of events unfolded.
«T» returned and took our main order.
Along with our drinks, we ordered short-​rib flautas as an appetizer. They arrived in a reasonable time and were delicious, serving to stave off the hunger.
My wife and I each ordered a salad, hers was a Caesar and mine was the roasted beet. She had the Linguini Frutti De Mari and I ordered the Special — a halibut served on a bed of beans with a tomato base.
One of the other nice wait staff brought our salads which were fine, good in fact, though a little over dressed. I asked for fresh pepper which she provided.
So far, this sounds like it could/​should be at least a four-​star review. And that’s true. And then…
Four bites into our salads, another nice wait person brought our food. We had barely started our salads and, especially with such a small table, we asked them to wait to bring the entrees. We felt rushed by them. Thats not a pleasant feeling when we just wanted a nice evening out.
We finished our salads… and waited.
Our plates were cleared… and we waited… and waited… and no one came by close enough to even catch their eye to check.
At the table next to us, just a few bites into their appetizers, their entrees were brought to them. They were upset, waving them away. There was no room on their small table to set entrees when they had only just started their apps. We engaged in conversation, finding that though they like coming to this restaurant, they really don’t like the feeling of being rushed through their meal.
Finally our entrees were brought to us. My wife and I exchanged glances wondering whether they’d only kept the food warm for us. Surprisingly, my wife’s linguini fruitti de mare looked great. It was hot, steaming hot, and the fish looked good.
My «Special» was a small portion of halibut. It was served luke warm at best over an ice-​cold salsa. The beans were so horribly undercooked as to be hard. The salsa (which was supposed to be a medley of tomatoes) was as good as from a jar out of the fridge.
The «Special» was a disaster.
I called one of the servers over and explained that this wasn’t what I thought it would be and wondered if that was *really* the way they intended to serve their «Special.» She was flustered and went «to check.»
Eric, friendly and apologetic, came by to check on us. I explained that the fish was barely warm and that, in fact, the rest of it was literally ice-​cold, further making my fish cold. I put my finger deep into my dish and told him to do the same. He was reluctant, but I insisted. When he did, his face dropped. It wasn’t «my food isn’t warm enough.» The set-​up was truly cold.
He whisked it away, returning with a menu, suggesting that the skirt steak was really good.
I agreed that would be a lovely substitution and, as I ordered it medium rare, I was assured that it would be put in as a rush order.
And then I sat there.
And my wife ate her food. She felt guilty eating alone as I watched. We engaged in good conversation, my place setting empty.
And then I sat there… my place setting empty. My wife slowing her pace, feeling guilty that she had food and I did not.
Our nice evening out was far from that, robbed by this experience.
And then, with my place setting empty, a nice wait staff came by to clear my wife’s shell bowl. She had merely paused and again we felt rushed. I hadn’t eaten and my wife’s food was ready to be cleared.
I caught Eric’s eye. And then he got distracted by another table who needed his attention.
And finally, my wife finished her food.
Eric came by, apologized profusely, and told me that he had taken care of the bill.
«All of it?» we inquired. «Yes… I’m really sorry.»
Learning that the check was taken care of, we got up to leave. As we did, a waitress came out from the pass at the kitchen, looking confused. She was ready to deliver my steak, the one that was ordered medium rare with a rush on it. (I looked, it was over cooked past medium rare.)
We were done. At least I had good short-​rib flautas and a reasonable salad.
We went to the grocery store and I ate at home (my wife, still feeling a little guilty for getting her food while I had none).
After I had been traveling, all we wanted was a nice evening out.
This was NOT it.

Bomb food. Came here for the first time on my birthday as a suggestion from a friend and fell in love with the place. Ordered the lucca burger and hands down is the best burger that you can get I Benicia. Came here a second time just a few weeks ago and actually took pictures of my meals. I WILL ONLY COME HERE FOR jalapeño poppers. These guys were wrapped I bacon and absolutely divine. Also got the pasta with shrimp. The FH ordered off of the happy hour menu and got the fries and chicken wings. So darn good. Great service, kind people, delicious food. We will be back!

We sat in the bar because my friend and I wanted to check out the bar scene while we ate dinner. Its not a big bar but it was hopping and it had a «Cheers» vibe to it. Very friendly and everyone either knew each other or acted very well for they sure seemed like they were all good friends. The young man who served us was very great. He offered suggestions with out pushing his opinion. The menu is very simple to choose from. Not a lot of variety. But what we had from the menu was totally worth the simple menu decisions. I got the skirt steak with the broccollini with red pepper flakes. Both completely divine. My girlfriend ordered the lamb sliders with goat cheese. DELISH! She said that her fish tacos were flavorful and tender. As for the Pancetta Green Beans. Well lets just say that my mouth waters to type the words of the food memories.

Awesome food! Stopped by here today while wandering around Benicia and couldn’t be happier. My boyfriend and I sat outside and I’m always afraid of being forgotten by the server but we weren’t! She was super sweet.
Boyfriend got the Cubano and fries and he loved it and the fries were hella good.
I got the Fish tacos and they were so good! Especially with a little lime squeezed over top :)
We will definitely be returning to try more off their menu!

Excellent food! Suggesting that this is the best American Food in Solano County is an easy call.
The large steak fries have the perfect texture and pairs well with their house-​made aioli.
This is the only local establishment that I know of who prepares their own Jalapeño poppers in-​house. Delicious!
The buffalo wings also hit the spot as Lucas perfected the outside crunch with the juicy meat that is required for great wings.
Always a great place to eat!

A smaller bar, but a nice bar to get a get a couple buddies to grab some drinks a catch the game. Nice dark ambience and the staff is friendly l.
The prices on the drinks here a lot friendlier than the other bars in the area which makes them my favorite in my book, I mean wallet. And the food they serve isn’t bad either
Just can’t get too wild in here