Casa Luca

I enjoyed the Bucatini Nero — squid ink pasta, grilled calamari, roasted tomatoes and shellfish-​tomato bisque. The great thing about this restaurant is that it serves throughout the day without a break between lunch and dinner time. So, I was able to enjoy a late lunch at 3pm in the afternoon.

My husband and I first time, we found a beautiful place delicious food and friendly staff.

I was here on business and dined alone at the bar. The Stracciatella app was one of the more amazing things I have eaten. I LOVED IT. I also got the smoked potato gnocchi which was good, but very rich. Found out after that I could have ordered a half portion — which I knew before so I could have tried dessert. Still dreaming about the Stracciatella.

Definitely some of the best high end Italian I’ve ever had. The service was pretty impeccable and I had the duck pappardelle. It was great and certainly very original. This place isn’t cheap especially for someone not used to paying DC prices, but I thought my dinner was well worth it. Friends that got the ravioli weren’t as impressed– they certainly did get less food than I did and were hungry later on. We went fairly early– around 5:30, and when we sat down were informed that they would need the table at 7:30 so I would definitely recommend reservations. Also happy hour is at the bar only and it isn’t very large, so don’t plan on arriving for discounted drinks later on in the evening.

I feel really out of the loop that I had not heard of this place before being invited to a business dinner there, but at least I was not the only one! Really wonderful, impeccable evening thanks to the staff of Casa Luca (named after the owner’s son, about the same age as Der Sprossling).
We ate in a private room, that seemed like a dining room in an old manor somewhere in Europe. Amiably, purposefully claustrophobic, in a way that encourages intimate conversation among table mates, and yet had room for waitstaff (Marlon?) to move around easily and continuously. I did not see/​pay attention to much of the rest of the establishment, a reason to go back I guess!
Everything seemed really well thought out, including the pacing and portioning of the meal. Even though there was a lot of food, it got eaten and I personally did not feel overstuffed at the end of the leisurely three hour meal. The only thing left over were some cookies, which the staff seemed happy to donate to the gullet of a fifteen year old boy left at home on a weeknight :)
The meal started with charcuterie and two cheeses, a blue (Capra blue?) and a manchego-​like, accompanied by honey and olives and bread (which could have been enough, really) then came some delicious meatballs, and a straciatella di bufala, with some garnishes. Everything was served family style and circled the table, with guests helping each other serve. One or two dishes were helped by the waiter, but again, I think it made the evening more festive and lively.
Two salads followed, one with burrata, and I am not sure what they were composed of, but by now I was on guard and only took a bite or two of each dish, which contributed to my surviving with stomach intact. The wine was also poured liberally, and was very good, I am not sure what it was, Villa something, I saw on the label, but given I am not partial to Italian reds, it was an extremely pleasant surprise.
The salad course was followed by mains, a seafood platter atop polenta, with giant prawns and white fish. I had one prawn (enough!) and one square of whitefish. I did not see the polenta, but no problem for me as it is one of the few corn based dishes I can do without (along with cornbread dressing). Then came grilled meat, and I had a lamb chop, slender, with a piece of filet I filched from the platter a bit later. Everything was deceptively simple. As I have said in another review, it is hard to do something like a beautiful roast chicken and have it turn out consistently over and over again, so one should appreciate the skill involved in manning a grill as superbly as they did — it is no backyard BBQ!
Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes, pasta, there were two, a fusilli with a creamy cheesy sauce, and lots of black pepper, and a ravioli cooked in broth with some greens and nutmeg (which I thought I had invented btw). Both were very tasty, but I would give the nod to the ravioli from my particular tastes. I had one spoon of both.
The meal ended with the aforementioned cookies, and a reasonable slice of coffee cake with caramel gelato. I ate mine with an espresso and as I said, was full but not ridiculously so. It is rare to find a meal so expertly handled, both in the kitchen and on the floor, and in such a well designed space. This seems like the perfect place to take a group of disparate individuals and through dining alchemy, turn them into a familigie.

Honestly came in with low expectations and had my mind and my palate blown away. I’m still thinking about the spinach pappardelle carbonara with truffles. It was out of control good — and so was the gnocchi with duck ragu… The salads were spectacular — I don’t eat a lot of whole milk cheese but the burratta was amazing from what I sampled. The monkfish stole the show from the short ribs and pork. Both were good but that fish — yum! The desserts were crazy tasty and I loved how they served the cookies in a festive tin with homemade caramel sauce. Overall a foodies delight on New Year’s Eve. I’ll be back once I finish detoxing from all the bread and pasta yumminess.

Cute little restaurant in DC’s City Center, but my food was way too salty and nothing really sets it apart from the numerous other Italian restaurants in DC.
Service was decent, but it took a while for them to bring out a spoon for my soup… how am I supposed to eat a soup without a spoon? Haha.
I visited recently for a weekday lunch with a friend. I ordered the Zuppa Di Giorno (tomato soup & mozzarella toast) to start and for my entrée, I ordered the Ravioli San Leo (ricotta & greens, lemon zest, almonds, fresh herbs). My ravioli was WAY too salty, almost to an uncomfortable degree! I managed to finish my entrée, but my lips were chapped afterwards. My friend ordered the Farrotto of Arctic Char (Tuscan farro risotto style, Blue Bay Mussels, and spicy brodetto). My friend seemed to enjoy her entrée a bit more than I enjoyed mine.
Just generally, I wasn’t all that impressed with Casa Luca. And a tip — the restaurant isn’t located in the same square as the rest of the City Center restaurants. It’s across the street.
I’d probably visit again, but it’s not at the top of my list of places I want to visit again.

Next time I’ll definitely look at the wine list before ordering a glass of Pinot Noir. Then the $ 19 per glass wouldn’t have been such a shock. More fool me. At least I only ordered one.
I ordered the lasagna, and for the portion size, it wasn’t worth $ 26. Wish I liked the taste more. And it seemed like some kind of deconstruction or re-​imagination of lasagna, served in a ramekin like a pot pie, with less pasta and more beef. Maybe that’s traditional. Didn’t dislike it enough to send back but not something I’ll order again.
My spouse’s gnocchi and Brussels sprouts were tasty as leftovers the next day. Should’ve ordered that, I guess. More fool me. Maybe next time.
Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t live in DC anymore, and next time I’m in town for dinner, I have a plethora of alternatives.

Elegant Italian restaurant with romantic aesthetics and delicious food.
I came here with a friend for drinks and small bites while we waited on a reservation at a nearby restaurant. As a vegetarian, I’m usually skeptical of Italian restaurants (since many don’t have protein-​rich options for veggies), but since we were just aiming for appetizers, I thought we should give it a try. I’m so happy we did, because the sampling of dishes we had was enough to convince me that I *must* return for a full meal.
We were seated at the bar, since we were only there for small bites, and received very friendly and attentive service from the bartender, who knew his drinks and dishes well. I had the chamomile Moscow mule — unique, refreshing, and tasty. We ordered the side of brussels sprouts and the stracciatella to share. The brussels sprouts were roasted and covered in cheese, and immediately made us both think we need to eat more of this vegetable. We didn’t really know what to expect with the stracciatella, having no idea what it was, but it was likewise delicious — like smooth Greek yogurt that tastes like mozzarella — and expertly paired with balsamic vinegar, pesto, fruit, and nuts.
Did I mention they tend to change their menu often? I don’t know whether to be dismayed at the choice angst that will induce or excited about never having a shortage of new things to try, but since I’m confident everything will be delicious, I’m going with excited.

This place was excellent! We had great service, location was nice, and the place had a nice vibe. We were very pleased with our choice. It was my husbands birthday so we tried this place based on previous reviews. We weren’t disappointed.
We started with apps, the Luca antipasto misto… Delicious! We loved the mozzarella and berries! What an incredible combination! The meatballs were ok and the salami was tasty. We should have stopped there for apps… But we also ordered the flat bread with a type of salami spread… I can’t recall the name. We couldn’t appreciate it because the Luca antipasto was more than enough for us.
The smoked potato gnocchi, yum! Mmm! Bursting with flavor, and served warm. The sauce has a subtle bacon flavor but it doesn’t over take the mushrooms… The portions don’t look like a lot but it’s very filling.
The ravioli was also good. My husband was happy with his choice.
The desserts were challenging… What to choose… They all sounded so good. I opted for the donuts and caramel and my husband went with the hot chocolate, which was very rich but a must to try.
We would definitely come back. I want to try other menu options… They all looked sooo good! This place is on the pricey side but an ideal place for a date night.

I made reservations for my birthday at Casa Luca this year. Combining food, service, and ambiance, this restaurant wins for best birthday experience. The moment I arrived, the waiter handed us a complimentary glass of sparkling wine– the perfect way to my heart. My boyfriend and I shared the tomato gazpacho with prawns, and the staff was nice enough to serve us separate bowls each with a hefty sized prawn for no added cost. This was one of the tastier gazpacho recipes I have had, though I admittedly was not a fan of the generous amount of balsamic sitting at the bottom of the glass. Next time I won’t mix it in.
We followed this with a shared burrata salad and half portions of the ravioli and buccatini. Everything was fresh and loaded with delicious flavors. For dessert, they served us a complimentary chocolate cake and candle– the perfect touch. Special occasion or not, I would recommend this intimate little restaurant for delectable Italian cuisine and great ambiance.

Excellent food. I had the drunken tuna, which was truly incredible. My dining companion had the skirt steak, which was also delicious. Enjoyed a great appetizer in the beef carpaccio. Our waitress was very attentive. The only reason I have not given this restaurant 5 stars was because we were seated more than 20 minutes after our reservation and had to follow up with the hostess to be seated even then.

I made a reservation at Casa Luca for my boyfriends birthday and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a small place, so prepare to sit almost next to your dining neighbor. The staff is very knowledgable and attentive.
We each started with salads that were AMAZING. Honestly, the salad with figs may have been my favorite. We ordered a «small plate» to share that wasn’t small at all. It was a cup of delicious fresh mozzarella and fresh fruit. The only weird thing is that it didn’t come with bread and we weren’t sure how to eat it.
I had the ravioli with fresh herbs (very good) and my bf had the filet, which he said was incredible. The dessert was a miss– we had these little Italian doughnuts with apple butter inside. They weren’t great, and the coffee was not amazing.
Even with the lackluster dessert Casa Luca gets 5 stars — but don’t be fooled, those stars come at $ 40 each for dinner for two!

We came for for Sunday brunch one afternoon with a lot of expectations thanks to the previous reviews. However, I feel like I might be crazy, because everyone in my party LOVED the Casa Luca brunch… Except me.
The service was friendly, but we all had the bottomless option and our drinks were filled only sparsely. Bottomless felt sort of like an exaggeration. I had the burrata salad and it was good, but I wouldn’t chalk it up with the best salads ever. I then had the Italian style omelet, and to be honest it felt like something I could have made at home. There was also spinach in it, which I hate, which is not listed on the menu. I ended with the panna cotta, and it was solid, but again not mind blowing.
I don’t think I would come back for brunch, but everyone else seemed to love it, so maybe it was just me? I would give it a shot for dinner though!

This meal was disappointing given my high expectations for a restaurant with such a degree of pedigree.
First, my friends soft shell crab was of poor quality. He described it as: «if given this at lunch for free I’d opt to pay for fast casual food.» It was chewy, dense and not cleaned properly. The portion was massive and all around unappealing.
Second, my steak dish was poorly cooked. The steak didn’t resemble medium rare and tasted more of beef stew than filet mignon. It screamed braised, not grilled. That being said the dish composition was stellar and the flavor was incredible. My dessert, a hazelnut cake, I have no complaints. The burrata salad I’d eat repeatedly. My experience was considerably more positive.
The wine was able average for the price point. The ambience felt a bit forced and the service was good, but not ideal. It felt like the restaurant was a bit full of itself, perhaps in an undeserved manner.
Overall, a decent experience, just not something worth ranting and raving about.

One of the best brunches in DC! Super attentive service and they let us sit for hours talking after our meal, continually offering more of our bottomless brunch libations. I love getting so many choices in the fixed price brunch special, and also that they have a la carte brunch options available. I will definitely be back!
My friends and I shared the warm bread and pastry basket while deciding on our meal. The basket had a good variety of sweet and savory items and cute little jars of jam, butter, and honey. I had a mimosa and my friends had the sangria. Both were refreshing. For my brunch I had bacalao fritters in citrus aioli to start. The aioli was spicy and creamy. The fritters were a bit mushier than I was expecting but there were decent sized chunks of fish, and good overall texture and flavor. My main was the Italian omelette with wild mushrooms that came in a mini cast iron skillet so it stayed warm! So good. For dessert I had chocolate mousse cake. There was a fruit sauce and cherries on top that I’m still thinking about. I really enjoyed tasting the salad and pasta my friend got, both with the burrata cheese. I’m ordering some of that next time!

We had the Sunday Sips menu — a great value at $ 48 per head. The menu features Sardinian recipes and wines.
The 3 pours of wine are outstanding. A vermentino (white) with the salad, a fruity red with the pasta, and a more assertive red with the fish.
The salad is good but not memorable (small bits of arugala and pickled red onion with crispy flatbread pieces.
The saffron spaghetti is tossed with some of the best artichokes I’ve tasted. It’s a winner.
The final course was a brodetto (broth) of little neck clams, mussels, and fregula (pasta pearls) topped with a small slab of dorado. This is food you can’t make at home.
We split a flavored limoncello to end.
Only qualm is on the 2^nd course the wine came out well after the food and vice versa on the third course. You’d hope for better kitchen/​bar coordination on a sipping menu. But the food is worth 5 stars.

I’ve been to Casa Luca before with my co-​worker for afterhours drinks and apps and really enjoyed it. Today I got to go for lunch and even though I was full I wasn’t really satisfied with my option.
The menu items are pretty pricey and they do offer a «Luca Lunch for $ 25» which includes a salad and a choice of entrée. I didn’t pick this offer and just chose the Spaghetti Carbonara. It was made with smokey bacon and a sunny side up duck egg… I opted for my dish without the egg. The pasta was creamy and al dente and was infused with the bacon flavor. However, as I was finishing up my plate I had to leave a good amount since I noticed the spaghetti and the sauce was very oily which is a instant turnoff.
Service was very attentive and accommodating and they place filled up extremely quickly. I would like to go back and order something a little lighter and less oily.

Tried to go to my favorite Italian restaurant yesterday, Filomena, but it was totally booked, so I found this place on Unilocal.
Based off the photos and reviews I was excited and thought I was gonna blown away, but that wasn’t the case.
We arrived at 5, I think that’s when they opened bc we were the only ones there. We decided to sit outside bc the weather was great, and the ambience was cool.
Service was attentive and the waitress was extraordinarily nice! I did appreciate the fact that we could order half portions of the pastas, which gave us the opportunity to try three different pastas.
I was really disappointed in the flavors. I was expecting so much more based on what I saw. The gnocchi with pork ragu was bland, and poorly seasoned. The pasta with muscles and prawns was the same. The only one that tasted remotely decent was the spinach pasta with lamb, but even that didn’t blow me away. We also ordered the soft shell crab special, tasty, but nothing to write home about.
My biggest pet peeve was the diet coke I ordered. They charged me $ 4 for a small 8oz glass bottle, mind u, a normal can is 12oz. So I had two of them, spent $ 8 for a total of 16oz of diet coke. If the restaurant doesn’t have a fountain system, at the very least they should give you a larger bottle for what Ur spending.

You know when you order that «exotic» adventurous meat and thought it better be worth it, but instead the weird chalky taste made you wonder what part of the duck you’re eating and why you didn’t go for steamed vegetables instead? Well that’s how I felt after trying the much hyped about duck gnocchi dish. I wanted to like it, but I ended up wanting more of my uncle’s lamb dish (which was actually good), and pushing the duck chalk to the side. The burratta was great, but in all I felt sad and robbed of my pure veggie stomach that had been corrupted for the day. But! The bombolonis are coming so wait for it!!!
Ok bombolonis were alright but nothing to explode over… I give 3 stars