Osteria LuCa — Restaurant in Charlotte

Osteria LuCa, located in the Park Road Shopping Plaza and owned by Ken and Tricia Callaghan Martino, had been on my radar for a while. On a lively Wednesday evening, I finally visited, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant was buzzing, and even with a reservation (highly recommended), we had a short wait. The interior blends chic and comfortable, with options for indoor and outdoor dining. Despite the energy, the noise level allowed for easy conversation.

Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, guiding us through a menu that blends modern Italian with traditional classics. To start, I ordered a Shirley Temple and later switched to a Roy Rogers. A dining companion raved about the cocktails, praising their quality.

For appetizers, we tried the meatballs, served with marinara, Parmesan, and grilled bread, and the brussels sprouts, tossed with peanut dukkah spices, preserved lemon, and ricotta salata. The standout was the creamy burrata with caramelized apples in bourbon honey, nuts, seeds, and fresh bread—a perfect taste of fall.

For my entrée, I chose eggplant parmigiana with bucatini. The eggplant was perfectly breaded and baked, paired with a chunky pomodoro sauce. The portion was generous, leaving me with leftovers. My companions ordered the pappardelle Bolognese, featuring handmade pasta and a rich pork-and-beef ragu, and the potato gnocchi, served with leek crema, crispy prosciutto, and Parmesan. Both dishes were hits.

We ended with dessert: tiramisu, bread pudding, and caramel pecan cheesecake. The tiramisu was exceptional, with perfectly balanced layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone mousse. The bread pudding, made with Medjool dates and bourbon caramel, was warm and comforting, while the cheesecake was dense yet dreamy, topped with caramel pecans.

Stuffed and satisfied, I left Osteria LuCa already planning my next visit. From the vibrant atmosphere to the outstanding food, it’s easy to see why this place is a...

Had the chance to visit this restaurant in February and couldn't fully enjoy my experience because my party was being rushed to finish our food due to the owner (white male) eyeballing our table and removing certain items from the table as if he was in a rush for us to leave. Now, I don't know if this was a racial thing or not, however, as the only predominantly black party there that evening, it wasn't pleasant. My party was running late to our reservation but the restaurant pushed the time back for us without a problem but once some of us were seated, we were asked by the owner when the rest of us were arriving bc that the table we were occupying was reserved for another party after us. I didn't read too much into this until I noticed him staring at us the entire night. That's when I realized, he didn't want us there at all which was extremely uncomfortable. The food was mid as well. The best part about our night was our waiter. She was a black woman who took her time with us and made sure we had everything we needed. She made sure we didn't feel rushed despite the owner's efforts to rush us out. We left her an amazing tip. But definitely won't be...

This is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Charlotte. We were really struck by the decor. The ambience was semi-casual and comfortable, and the food was top notch. We received garlic knots complimentary, which were delicious. Then the three of us shared the arugula spinach salad and the Brussels sprouts appetizer, both good-sized for sharing and also wonderful. The salad was what you would expect, but the best version of what you expect, while the sprouts had little pieces of lemon in them that were unexpected but, again, great. For entrees we had the pork chop, the amatriciana, and the bolognese. All were good and generously portioned, but I did not find any of them to be truly special or outstanding. Lastly, we ordered the tiramisu, the cheesecake, and the strawberry bomba. The tiramisu came in a small parfait almost like a trifle; was good. The strawberry bomba more unique and also quite good, but the cheesecake was amazing. All in all, friendly and quick service, good portions/value, beautiful interior, and good to excellent food. We'll come back...