CRITICS' REVIEWS | CUSTOMERS' REVIEWS

"Cafe Lucci is a distinctively elegant family-run restaurant that boasts an extensive, well-thought-out menu and a vast selection of wines ... The cordiality fostered by the Arifi brothers and their smiling staff ... along with the sense of sophistication that extends from Cafe Lucci's impressive menu, made the night a true delight ..."

Dishes reviewed:
Gnocchi con Sugo D'Anitra -- melt-in-your mouth home-made gnocchi are nicely accented by the ragu sauce with tender braised duck and terrific fresh tomato.
Spaghettini con Ricotta Salata - amazing array of flavors - the sweet-tart of the tomatoes, the richness of the ricotta and the understated zing of the garlic and rosemary combine into a perfect variation on an Italian classic.
Vitello Pancetta - combination of flavors (veal medallions in white wine with pancetta ham, Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh sage) is simple and subtle.
Orata Aquapazza (Chilean sea bass fresh fish special) - Chef Augie's preparation features rosemary, pepper flakes, plum tomatoes and white wine. The fish is perfectly flaky and tender and the filets in the sauce are mouthwateringly memorable.

"The desserts at Cafe Lucci are also remarkable-both in appearance and in taste - and deserve a try no matter how full you get ... Indispensable at this point was the custom-blend Lavazza coffee, a nicely balanced cup with enough kick to provide the perfect punctuation to your feast."

 

Vibe: "Pleasant atmosphere, bordering on elegant. Top-notch service. A real sense of the Italian experience here."
Flavor: "Impressive flavor combinations flow through all the pasta dishes. Scampi and linguine in a vodka cream sauce, eight-finger cavatelli with roasted red peppers, asparagus and mushrooms, penne in a mascarpone cream sauce. Chicken Vesuvi (with peas), sausage and peppers, calamari over polenta with a spicy red sauce, veal, steaks, chops. Chef Augie Arifi lays it all out there. Outstanding wine list."

 

“The food practically glows with the flow... It’s a wonderful blend of style and ingenuity that leaves you more satisfied than stuffed. Items that sound ordinary sparkle on the plate. If the essence of this restaurant can be defined by signature dishes, perfect examples would be cappellacci Brivado, vitello Rusticana and bistecca Vaccaro. In each, flavors flourish above and beyond those touted at most competing eateries of this persuasion ... Like the food and atmosphere, service is refined.”

 

“The new décor is quite fabulous. The food is better than ever and I just love the new room!”

 

“Any time you’ve got five (now six) Wine Spectator awards hanging on your wall, you’ll have to have the decor to back it up. And sure enough, it’s all about the beiges, browns and leather at Cafe Lucci. The food is as Italian as you’ll get from the bread and white-wine mussels to the seafood crepes and veal. You absolutely cannot afford to miss the tiramisù – it’s as mandatory as the espresso at the end of dinner. It has a nice raspberry twist to it and practically melts in your mouth”.

“Visit Cafe Lucci to wine and dine yourself when you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate. Or better yet—when you’re in the mood to spoil yourself for no reason.”

 

“In addition to incredible wines, Chef Augie Arifi serves up fresh fish, chicken, veal and pasta specials daily. The sautéed mussels in wine and garlic, veal chop with fungi mushroom sauce, and portobello mushroom soup are personal favorites. The preparation of their Chilean sea bass – when available - should never be passed up.”

 

“Diners are invited in by a warm, chocolately interior and crisp, white table linens. The bar is separated from the dining area by a long line of wine cabinets. Fresh bread, roasted garlic and olive salad are complimentary. Appetizers include smoked salmon with potato pancakes; a long list of pasta possibilities features gnocchi tossed in vodka sauce with onions and Italian sausage, or try a hearty half-rack of lamb in Cognac rosemary sauce.”

 

“The welcome feeling begins with Cafe Lucci’s reservation-taking voice on the phone…”

“Best of my main courses is the special salmon Florentine. Requested rare, the broiled fillet arrives perfectly translucent inside, draped over sauteed spinach in a light lemon butter.”

“Cafe Lucci in Glenview is the kind of family-owned restaurant that the corporate chains try to imitate.”

“Ya gotta love Lucci… First impressions are as important in a restaurant as they are in a romance, and Cafe Lucci in Glenview begins courting its customers before they even step across the threshold.”

“This cozy spot serves up Italian fare with inventive accents.”

“Wine lovers can enjoy many Super Tuscans and other international selections with the exciting northern Italian cuisine of Cafe Lucci in Glenview.”

Home Away From Home
“We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful party on Saturday night and know that it was due in large part to your great service, hospitality and food. We apologize if we over stayed our welcome but forgot that we weren’t at home, a testimony to all of you!”

Number One Favorite Restaurant
“It has been our great pleasure to be a frequent diner at Cafe Lucci for almost a decade. It is our number one favorite restaurant. The reasons are many: The food quality and variety is exceptional. I have not eaten at an Italian restaurant in Chicago and suburbs that is as consistent and delicious. Service is impeccable and the variety of and quality of wines is fantastic - always served at the right temperature and decanted when appropriate. (I especially like the Winemaker Dinners.)

“The Arifi brothers with Augie in the kitchen and Bobby out front are the best team in the business. Our company’s favorite is our annual Christmas dinner at Cafe Lucci. We never pick anything for ourselves. Everything brings a smile to our faces.

“Cafe Lucci is the restaurant to get away and forget about everything and enjoy something that is truly important in life. Good food, good wine and good people!”

Open Table Diner's Choice
September 2008 -- Cafe Lucci was voted #1 in the Italian category (www.opentable.com ).

The After Glow of Three Thumbs Up!
“In case you missed the initial three airings of Check, Please! on WTTW, Ch. 11, the weekend of November 3, 2006, and the re-run weekend January 12-14, 2007, here’s what the anonymous eaters had to say about Cafe Lucci. Monte recommended us for our “outstanding Italian food and terrific wine list.” Lucio said, “it was well worth the drive to the burbs,” and Francis, who dined and, unfortunately, was taped BEFORE our extreme makeover, said, “the décor could use an update, but the food was terrific.” Won’t she be surprised when she sees the transformation! The response was practically instantaneous as we were flooded with reservations – both times. Pretty soon they’ll know who we are in Peoria.”

More Passion for the Job
“I didn’t think my chances were good but I called on Tuesday to say I had just made last minute plans and wondered if I could order two Dover soles for Wednesday. Not only was the order ready, but the fish was cooked to perfection. To top it off, my dad’s favorite wine (no longer on the wine list) was also waiting for us. All during dinner, he talked about how fantastic you two are. Your service and food is quite simply the best of any restaurant I’ve ever been to. Thank you so much. It’s such fun to see two people with a passion for their jobs that excels in every area.”

Special Treatment
“Far Niente was unbelievable. The tours you set up were the highlight of our trip. We dined at some very good places but we all agreed that Cafe Lucci was a better dinning experience. We can't get back to Chicago for our Cafe Lucci fix and just wish you had something in Florida.”

Hooked Forever!
“We had the pleasure of dining with our friends, Steve and Susan Gauthier, last night and I just wanted to tell you how much we loved the entire experience. Your service, the wonderful wine selections and especially the dinner choices were spectacular! Thank you for your hospitality. We will definitely be back.”

New on the Restaurant Route
“I've never sent an e-mail to a restaurant before but after last night, I thought it was time. The Sea Bass was delicious, the service was excellent, the Dolcetta D'alba was amazing, and the hospitality really made me feel welcome. As soon as I got home, I informed my wife that there was a new restaurant that she was going to love and we will see you soon.”

A Perfect Party!
“We could not have been more pleased. The food, the service, the warmth – all made our day perfect! We most definitely will have more special occasions with you.”

Mondavi Winemaker Dinner Impresses VIPs
“Thanks, Bobby, It was a spectacular dinner. Augie did a great job. To produce food of that high quality, in those amounts, and serve them so quickly together, is a major accomplishment. I know he (Michael Mondavi) was happy with the dinner.”

The Arifis Score Again – All of Them!
“The party last night was fantastic! As always, Bobby, you planned it to perfection. Augie, the food was spectacular. Ylli, I don’t know where to begin. You were fantastic running that room by yourself! And Sam, keeping everyone together was great! You guys are the best!”

The Personal Touch
“Thanks for being like Cheers, where everybody knows your name when we come in.”

A Birthday Party Lucci Style
“Cafe Lucci entertained my wife and me along with 14 of our family and friends in honor of her 75th birthday. The table was beautifully set, complete with two floral arrangements. The food was excellent and drew rave reviews from our entire group of very fussy eaters. The wines suggested by the waiter were perfect and the service was superb. Please accept my thanks and a hearty "well done" for a nice party that my wife will long remember.”

Surprise is Perfect
“Just wanted to send a thank you to you and your team for a wonderful evening last Saturday night for Patty's surprise birthday party. Cafe Lucci was a great host, the food was fantastic (as usual), and Conrad and Eddie (our waiters) were outstanding! We had many people compliment on the outstanding food and service. Thank you for being personally involved and making sure everything was perfect.”