Trattoria da Leo — Restaurant in Lucca

It's fine at best. Had pork and mushroom stew, the pork needed some chewing. Service is a very bare minimum. All tables are in one loud room and close to each other so you are practically at the same table with strangers. My experience was particularly coloured by an incident with the bread charge. A bag of dry bread slices was thrown on the table same time as the menu, no explanation (even though I am clearly a tourist), and then at the end I was charged for the bread. When I queried this, and said I had not asked for bread, they said everywhere does it, and when I said no one told me, the waitress suddenly got very stroppy and took it off the bill. Now, having googled this, I see this is quite a usual custom in this region, but custom or not, the laws on consumer services have some minimum standards in Europe, and telling people about charges in advance is one of those, particularly when it is clear that they are a tourist. Had they told me it was paid for, I would have queried the quality of the bread as well, because €1.50 is much too much for four dry slices of bread. Having looked at the menu again, it is there but under drinks, which it clearly is not. But even then, the response of the waitress was strange - had she politely explained, apologised and insisted, I might well have been persuaded to pay it, but her response left me sufficiently unsatisfied to write...

If the clientelle are local and range from young families to elderly couples, you know you are eating in a well loved restaurant. This was the case when we ate at the da Leo . Reminded me of the family run Les Routies of France. Good tasty regional food , well prepared, and generous portions . We were not disappointed. The entree was a mixture of hams,cheese, and olives .Fresh and ample for 2 people. This was followed by spinach Ravioli with a beautiful homemade pumpkin sauce. My wife chose the pasta with rabbit and olives, again made from fresh ingredients and certainly meaty. Had ordered the ribs and potatoes after seeing the neighbouring tables meal, but at this point, I was full so the waiter kindly cancelled the order. A tiramisu was the crowning glory to the meal. My wife commented that it was the best she had eaten all week We had the house red and white, which again was most acceptable . The waiter spoke perfect English, and the menu came in both languages, which helped the tourist who were there that evening. Go there or you will miss the chance to eat like a...

Went in afternoon to book a table for that evening. All outside tables already booked. Sadly accepted an indoor one, sure that this must be a hidden gem.

Building was nice. Staff comprised a Nonna in the kitchen with a couple of helpers and two or three middle-aged, tattooed but very friendly women doing front-of-house.

We sat down just as they opened.

It filled up very quickly.

Chaos followed.

Wine but no glasses.

People who arrived after us had food before we had managed to order. Time after time after time one of the ladies would be wandering the room with plates of food trying to find their owners. Food, when it arrived, was stunningly average.

All the chaos & waiting meant that relationships were formed with fellow customers, most of whom seemed to be locals.

All in all I'd have to say it wasn't very good. And yet...

The street outside was thronged with people waiting to get in.

Would I go again? Strangely, yes - I really enjoyed...