Lucio — Restaurant in Culpeper

We couldn't wait for the restaurant to be opened when we were in Culpeper, as we always don't go there and were happy to see it was open one night when we were there. However, the food was fine, the prices were great, the service was mediocre. I don't think we'll go back again. We might if we have no place else better to go, but we were just disappointed with the atmosphere that it was trying to portray. It just wasn't there. The board when you walked in said there were items for the night and when you asked for them we were told they weren't there anymore, but yet they kept it on the board. We ordered an appetizer that didn't come with a serving spoon. The server did not check on our table during the meal. Those types of small things are important to us when we go out for fine dining. We had to ask the serverer for side plates, we had to ask for bread, we had to ask for everything. The server was not very attentive...

It was recommended by the B&B owner where we stayed. The meal was unbelievably good! My wife had panko-encrusted grouper, a special on the day we went, and I had the sole in egg batter with lemon butter sauce from the regular menu. Both were superb and the portions were generous. The sole was the best I've ever eaten, cooked to perfection, it almost melted in my mouth. The grouper was also excellent. For desert we tried an almond cream cake and split it. It was so good that my wife asked if they were open late enough that we could come back later for another piece! We had called ahead alerting them that we had only an hour to eat before we had to leave for a performance at the Castleton Festival, about 40 minutes away. The service was fast, friendly (but not annoying), and we felt we had gotten undeserved VIP treatment. (Cost per person quoted...

Culpeper has a LOT of great restaraunts, but Lucio is my most favorite... Hands down. I think I'm there every single Tuesday for their special of angel hair pasta with marinara sauce (and it also comes with a delicious buttery cream sauce mixed in). Sauces are all obviously homemade.. I've tried to replicate it without any success- theirs is always 100% better. It's a grand slam, outta this world, melt in your mouth, gotta have it every week kind of GOOD. The customer service here is GREAT. Not sure what previous reviewers were talking about... This Restaraunt has a family feel to it, but also with an eclectic elegance-- making it perfect for date night or even a casual lunch with family.

If I ever die, fill my casket full of Lucio's pasta.... It's what I would...