Taverna Luciana - Ristorante e pizzeria Cucina Tipica Napoletana — Restaurant in Naples

I can only assume that the people who found this restaurant to be good don’t eat out much or hit this place on an exceptionally good day. It is not a ‘hidden gem’ but a run of the mill local restaurant which has unfortunately let some good reviews from tourists who’ve probably not done much research into eating in Naples, go to its head. I’ve been eating in Naples for nearly 20 years, it’s very easy unfortunately to get ripped off as a tourist, even if you speak Italian. I’d hoped this place would be a nice change from my usual haunts and it also had a 20% discount offer if booked via Tripadvisor which should’ve been a warning I suppose. It’s located in a colourful neighbourhood, a little off the beaten track but better for it. We were greeted very warmly and shown a table outside which suited us as the interior was very busy. We ordered wine, 3 starters from the ‘specials’ (fresh fish with seafood and pasta), 2 pizzas and a fish ‘special’. A hour and a bottle of wine later there was still no sign of any food appearing despite some other diners joining us outside (as they had a dog) who were now merrily tucking into their bruschetta and starters. Venturing inside, I was told that ‘they were very busy as they had a large group in’, which isn’t really what I wanted to hear as not just a group but the entire restaurant inside seemed to be very busy eating. After 75 minutes and having started a second bottle of wine, I returned inside and rather more emphatically asked if we were likely to get any food today otherwise I was happy to pay for the wine and go elsewhere to which I was told ‘OK, just go’. As we were gathering our things, rather miraculously a fish appeared and against my better judgement we sat down again. The meagre fish was divided between 3 plates alongside 8 pieces of pasta each that elevated the term ‘al dente’ to new heights, 3 infant clams added the seafood element. The following pizzas were very good (this is Naples after all) but the fish main course was so salty that it was inedible, even our neighbours dog declined it. After this we saw no one again, not even when attempting to pay the bill. There was no apology for the excessive wait or offer of coffee or the dreaded limoncello and fortunately no sign of the 20% discount of which they claimed to know nothing. The bill however did contain a wine that was €15 more than the one that was supposed to be identical to the one that they’d ‘run out of’ (the best oldest tricks are the best ones) and the €60 fish!.. I’m still chasing up elusive discount on a matter of principle but in the mean time I’d really urge people to avoid this place, it is a disgrace. I was so disappointed for my friends who I was attempting to show the sometimes hard to find tourist friendly side of Naples. Lesson learnt, stick to...

Racist Establishment!!! I'm not one to throw race into everything, but i absolutely believe I was subjected to cruel and unusual treatment, solely due to the color of my skin. I ordered a beverage, and a pie. My total should've been 12 euros, however my card was charged more than triple, at 40 euros. The host even repeated the order back to me very carefully. Upon further examination of my receipt, we got that issue resolved....whatever, i didnt mind too much, as i know some people purposefully try to get over on American tourist. There were two other parties there, and then me. I had to sit in a very dark, and secluded area despite there being plenty of open seats...the waitress refused to allow me to move..I was genuinely confused as to why. There was a separate seating area for reservations only, which was understandable, however that was not the area I was in....I literally had to sit up against a brick wall, with flies, and in the dark near the back...despite there being plenty of space. Finally as more people started to come, I realized I was the ONLY one who had to pay prior to even being seated. I figured that must be a customary thing in Napoli, but apparently not. When I asked, they could not give me a concrete explanation as to why I was the only who had to pay up front. I was the only black person in the entire restaurant. I was triple charged, secluded, and forced to pay up front. These are too many coincidences, and I'm 100 percent sure I was treated unfairly due to my skin. Nobody was genuinely apologetic, and my server practically acted like I didn't exist. I will NEVER return to this establishment again. It sucks because it was the first restaurant I tried after a long flight. It left a very bad taste in my mouth. RUDE service, and mediocre food. Please spend your money in establishments that are accepting and...

Taverna Luciana in Naples is a culinary treasure trove that requires a stroke of luck to secure a reservation. We were fortunate enough to snag a table on short notice, as it was fully booked for weeks ahead later in the week.

The ambiance is bustling, with waiters darting around the small space. It can be a challenge to flag one down, but the energy adds to the charm of the place.

Now, onto the food—the real star of the show. We took a leap of faith with the octopus salad, despite the disclaimer about the possibility of it being made with frozen octopus. To our delight, it was exquisite. The pasta with octopus was a solid 10 out of 10, showcasing the true mastery of Neapolitan cuisine.

Of course, no Italian meal is complete without an Aperol spritz. However, the only disappointment of the evening was the lack of dessert options due to the high demand. We had hoped to indulge in traditional treats like tiramisu or baba, but only ice cream was available.

Despite the dessert setback, our experience at Taverna Luciana left us eager to return for another taste of their exceptional cuisine and perhaps the chance to sample their...