Osteria Nova — Restaurant in Lucca

Wanted to check this place out after hearing so many positive feedbacks. I was unfortunately disappointed by many aspects.

Service: our waiter was either new, or very nervous, handling cutlery and dishes in a quite goofy way. Serving wine and water using both hands as she was afraid to spill it or something. Nothing bad, but nothing to be praised either.

Food: speaking with other customers that night we found out we had shared common orders.. So we shared our opinions about it and we all agreed that our tartare was way too salty and chewy. Nothing close to opinions heard before such as "tartare is delicious". Not bad, but surely not delicious.

Overall, the experience is "okay". Nothing more. Nothing less.

Quite on a pricey side if you consider only my friend took wine and desert, and with one main course each and an appetizer we ended up spending 30 euro each...

Side note: 4 euro (each) of cover charge (the do called: coperto). I haven't seen such a high price for cover not even in Starred restaurants. Overpriced.

That said, I am quite sure the restaurant was amazing when it kick-started... And going a bit downhill these days, as it quite obvious the difference of level between my review and the others. Surely something have changed, either the chefs, or quality of ingredients.

I'm looking forward visiting again, and changing...

What an amazing place ! We spotted it when walking the wonderful streets of Lucca and booked for the evening - well I’m blown away. Really interesting dishes , well prepared, in a wonderful setting. We’ve been to many restaurants in different counties, and this one has reminded me how a random find can bring a smile to everyone’s face. You can often judge a place by the bread, and they set the pace from the get go - the dark focaccia was amazing (as was the normal version along and other breads), we also got a mini spritz along with a mortadella beignet amuse bouche (all superb). I had a delicious stuffed squid starter followed by the best tagliolini with truffle I’ve ever had! My dessert was an inverted lemon meringue with yuzu - not too sweet and a fantastic version. I’m still salivating over what we ate while writing this, many thanks & Buon Natale!

—— Update: as we had such nice memories, I booked to come back with some friends on a summer holiday. I hadn’t noticed the outdoor space in December, but it’s lovely in August and the food was just as delicious the second time (you do worry it won’t be the same, and so glad it was). Definitely worth reserving...

FOOD POISONING WARNING. PLEASE READ. My girlfriend got severe food poisoning from this restaurant. We ate here on a Saturday night, our order was beef tar tar, raw shrimp risotto and raw langoustine with spaghetti. The next morning she woke up feeling unwell and got progressively worse all day, she was vomiting and had diarrhoea. In the evening it got so bad I contemplated taking her to hospital, and asked my hotel for a doctor. WhatsApp messages attached. I informed the restaurant she contracted food poisoning there and at first they were reluctant to accept. Eventually, they offered a refund (due to my persistence) which I agreed to. We spent €50 on medication so clawing back some money felt reasonable. However, after a week of no refund after sending my bank details (which they requested) I chased the restaurant and they tell me they now decide not to pay. An awful experience, my girlfriend was really ill for 3 days, made worse by the ignorant owners behaviour. I do not recommend anyone...