Review Lucio's Italian Restaurant - Woollahra

We celebrated our anniversary at Lucio, it was an amazing experience. The food was absolutely divine, from entrée to desserts. Restaurant is quite artistic, bright and vibrant. The service was great, staff were friendly. We would definitely go back. Highly recommended.

A Sydney Italian institution in a quiet and pretty part of Paddington. My husband took to Lucio's for my birthday treat, and it's a classic, timeless restaurant with beautiful quality food and wine. We had the phenomenal NZ Chardonnay, which went perfectly with our appetizers and mains, and finished with a beautiful Muscat to accompany dessert and petite fours. Staff are knowledgeable and service is friendly, plus the various artwork on the wall adds to its charm and character. Definitely be sure to include Lucio's to your Sydney 'must-try' restaurant list!

Eating at this restaurant makes you feel part of history just like the paintings surrounding you on all walls. I loved the zucchini flowers fritters, light and tasty. The pasta dishes were both outstanding but the ink squid fazzoletti were our favorites. Staff is very friendly and they tend to leave you alone so that you have time to enjoy the whole experience. Overall, it's a great Italian restaurant with authentic cuisine. I've seen a few negative reviews but you can easily tell that they fake as the profile has only a handful of reviews but I have to commend Sally on handling very well the negative feedback and providing factual information to address it with class. Well done on that as well!

What a beautiful experience. A meal at Lucio’s is always special regardless of the occasion, in this case a family lunch for my daughter’s birthday. The entire table of 7 loved every bite, and the service (fine dining but friendly and welcoming) and the gorgeous, art-adorned space topped it off. We will always return to Lucio’s, an evergreen classic that stays true to its heritage while remaining fresh and modern.

Had a craving for pasta and made a lunchtime booking online during the week. The food quality was very good and so was the coffee. However, with only two staff on the day, we waited 15-20 minutes before we even got the menu.

I had team lunch recently with a few friends at this old establishment at Paddington before Christmas holiday. The ambience of the place is good and the restaurant has a good vibe, wall decoration and bright sunlight inside. The service from floor staff is generally good and efficient, but too bad they forgot to put a steak knife for my grilled veal which is an amateur mistake for a fine-dining establishment like this one. I've tried 3-courses menu and they're all mostly good. The special dishes for me were the ravioli of ricotta and wakame and the pistachio creme brulee. I've tried some cannoli from my friend's plate and they're not my favorite since the pastry was a bit too crumbly and the white chocolate taste overwhelmed the ricotta.

Excellent service and definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Sydney. The Two Hat recognition did not disappoint. The best thing is that they're trying new stuff, so not just giving you traditional Italian dishes. My favourite dishes of the night were their wakame ravioli with crispy native salt bush and burnt butter, the marron risotto and the lemon panna cotta with lime sorbet and watermelon granita. The only thing that I would comment is the bread. It was stale and very hard to bite into and the butter was hard and cold and haven't been given enough time for it to soften. Given there are many restaurants out there that start their service with amazing, warm, freshly baked bread and home made butter, it will be good if they could have at least sourced better bread and butter and at least warmed up the bread prior to service. Other than that, everything was great and will come again. Bonus: it's relatively quiet as well

The best gnocchi I had in my whole life! I went to celebrate my 5th anniversary with my partner and we just have compliments about it. Amazing experience, everything is fresh and the staff is really friendly. 5 starts!

Lucio's Italian Restaurant was established in Paddington in 1983 and enjoys a remarkable reputation for exceptional Italian food and magnificent Australian Art. "Food and art for me is like the air that I breathe," says Lucio Galletto OAM. "The combination of great food, great service and great art on the walls is, in my view, one of the best dining experiences you can imagine." Lucio's is open five days a week, Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner with a focus on Northern Italian cuisine, fresh pasta and modern touches to classic dishes.

AMAZING ITALIAN FOOD 💥💥💥<br/><br/>Must Order: crab pasta, scampi risotto, florentine steak!<br/>Their pastas are all hand & home made :) <br/><br/>Great interior & vibe - feels like youre in Italy! <br/><br/>But tbh, the waiter is quite rude. Would be a perfect restaurant if they improve their attitude.

A must restaurant of choice for any occasion especially the special ones!!! Food is yummilicious and always consistent! Service is superb, warm and genuine and welcoming.Would definitely recommend.

Exceptional experience - service slick. Food very high standard. All round professional outfit and a big night out in a beautiful area. Vongole a stand out. Service very polished. Amazing wine list. Perfect night out.

A marvellous Saturday night experience, with wonderful, patient and good natured staff! Lucio himself was on hand and the food was truly special, particularly during truffle season! We loved the Carpaccio al Tartufo, and the lamb for secondi was excellent. Excellent ambience and value for high quality produce!!!<br/>

Authentic Italian dishes and pizza. Pizza crust is close to as good as it gets in Sydney. Still different to the Italian pizzas but gives them a run for their money.

Really love Lucios. The atmosphere of eating with 1,000’s of dollars worth of art hanging around you creates a somewhat unique experience , especially given the intimacy of the place. <br/><br/>We went with the degustation with matching wines. Don’t know where to start it really was all good. The 34 year old pasta dish, yes it’s been on the menu since they first opened, is delicious. The squid ink pasta which has been on the menu for many years also did not disappoint.<br/>The octopus was probably the standout though - slow cooked for 4 hours - it just melted in your mouth.<br/><br/>All of the wines where quite unique and were great matches. I have been avoiding matched wines of recent times because many places get it wrong, and I end up having preferred to just buy a bottle of something I like. But I’m glad to say my faith in this combo has returned.<br/><br/>Fantastic service , so efficient and friendly - like clockwork everything arrived just as we needed it to.

A Sydney institution famous for its wide collection of Australian Art and Italian food, the Paddington stalwart showcases contemporary Italian dishes with an occasional twist. The harmonious combination of food, hospitality and art is an interesting dining experience. <br/><br/>Lucio's signature dish, tagliolini alla granseola, or fine green noodles with fresh blue swimmer crab and light tomato sauce, was constantly featured among the bucket list of must-try dishes in Sydney. However, the noodles were soggy, mushy and overcooked and the swimmer crab was too fine and powdery. The light tomato sauce did not coalesce the noodles and the crustacean and it appeared like three separate sections. I reckon the Italian Bowl in Newtown makes way better pastas than Lucio's. <br/><br/>The entree, a certain gamberi e carciofi or grilled king prawns with a salad of thinly shaved raw globe artichoke and Parmesan ($32), was rudimentary and unappealing. The prawns were tough and hard and it was obvious they were not fresh catch (caught in the day). <br/><br/>For a two-hatted restaurant, it appears the Lucio's relies on its reputation more than anything else. While its unparalleled service and hospitality was commendable, they could probably go back to basics and improve on their ingredients and food. Just another overrated and overpriced restaurant.

Very friendly and professional staff, great decor and lastly but not the least, delicious food. Have to admit that it wasnt the best Italian we tried, but it was still quite good.

Nice imitate Italian restaurant in Paddington. Food and service was good but the highlight was seeing Bill Nighy there. <br/>Waiters were very professional and patient. I asked many questions to make the right choices. <br/>Also nice surprise was the happy birthday written in chocolate for my friends on the petite four plate

A pretty good italian place although on the pricier side of things<br/><br/>The pasta is the best dish you can get here particularly the lucio 33 year old hand made crabmeat pasta. The pasta's texture is quite hard which is great and the crabmeat and sauce pairs nicely with it<br/><br/>The mains are ok, spatchcock is pretty decent and my colleague seemed to enjoy it. The veal was decent, the rack part was delicious, soft and juicy however the other method fo eating was a bit dry imo<br/><br/>Staff is excellent and lovely<br/><br/>Defo recommend and revisit

Being there 5 years ago before I went again recently. Food was still great, love the atmosphere and every single bit of it, arts on the wall, friendly staff. Will definitely go back!

Never misses the mark. Slick & professional. A Paddington icon. Italian modern at its finest. Well drilled service staff. A great soul in this restaurant. The lamb & ravioli on this occasion was 10/10. Wine list magnificent - a real gem.

Authentic Italian menu, I had the spaghetti ragu which was on special, Highly recommended! <br/><br/>Crab pasta was way too overbearing in flavour, guess that's crab for you. <br/><br/>Service was pretty average, too pushy & fake. <br/><br/>Overall if you love Italian you can't go wrong... <br/><br/>Check out paintings on the wall, some are stunning. <br/><br/><br/><br/>

I don’t write reviews but I felt compelled on this occasion. <br/><br/>Lucio's was the most underwhelming dining experience my partner and I have ever experienced. <br/><br/>The waiter was incredibly rude, patronising and arrogant. <br/><br/>On our arrival he made a discourteous remark because we were the last (late) booking when they had already started packing up. Although there were plenty of empty tables available, he chose to sit us in the passage way. He than insisted (practically forced) my partner to order a different bottle of wine than what she requested . Finally, after asking for additional chilli for my pasta, he insinuated I had a poor palette because the chilli would stifle the taste of the seafood!?<br/><br/>Horrible service, average cuisine and overpriced. Will never go back again.

THE SCREAM<br/>Lucio’s Galletto from Italian Restaurant LUCIO’S (Paddington) claims that “The combination of great food, great service and great art on the walls is, in my view, one of the best dining experiences you can imagine.”<br/>However our experience was like the meaning and story behind The Scream by Edvard Munch.<br/>We were aware that Lucio's do not have a children's menu, and we were appreciative that Mr Lucio personally offered to make something to my daughters taste.<br/>They discussed Fettuccine Boscaiola, however what was presented was cream, butter, no bacon or flavor.<br/>We made no issue of it. But Mr Lucio was clearly offended. Standing over our table as we ate, Mr Lucio accused my daughter of not trying the spaghetti dish and said, “You are rude. You should be disgraced with yourself"<br/>Mr Lucio ordered a waiter to "clear their table and give them their bill".<br/>As my father stood up to pay Mr Lucio blocked his way and said "get back to your table: you don't deserve service".<br/>Edvard Munch’s great ambition was to paint the life of the soul – this is the image of Mr Lucio we saw tonight.? <br/>I had been to this restaurant many times before on business, but I will never return.

We booked a table for two which was still being cleared at the time of our booking. The lady at the door was kind enough to offer us two glasses of prosecco (on the house) while we waited, which we thought we a nice gesture. We ordered the vegetarian ravioli, roast beetroot salad and the house special - spaghetti crab. The pasta was perfectly cooked in both dishes and the salad was nicely balanced. Overall we weren't blown away. The service was a little slow and inattentive at times. We felt the waiter was a little bit arrogant over our decision to not have any wine. The ambience is gorgeous - White table clothes, impressive fine art and dimmed lights making it a perfect romantic setting.

What more could you ask for than beautiful comforting pasta on a rainy Summer's (felt more like Winter) night. We were recommended by friends to order the special pasta (whatever it may be) and the signature crab pasta that's been on the menu for 32 years. Luckily for us all the pasta came in an entree size so we were able to taste all four and they were all equally delightful. From the green linguine with blue swimmer crab, the ravioli with cherry tomato and basil, the squid ink tagliatelle with braised octopus and handkerchief pasta with seafood and chili. The zucchini stuffed with scallop mousse was a lovely delicate entree. Wine list was well catered for and the service in the true Italian style made us feel like we were back in Italy.

Took my girlfriend out here on her 29th Birthday. We had a great experience, absolutely loved the service from the people there. This has got to be one of the best pastas we had in Sydney. I'm a huge fan of carpaccio, and the one we had from here is quite possibly our favourite now. It may not be everyone's style of pasta but we enjoyed it. The coffee with biscotti was a nice touch that made our night. We're looking to go back sometime.

Delicious linguine. Ordered the crab linguine after a recommendation from a colleague and so glad I did! It was delicious. Best crab linguine I've had. Shared an entrée of bruschetta which was great too with crispy pancetta, pumpkin and buffalo mozzarella. My partner had the lamb rack which was cooked perfectly but the jus that came with it was far too tart and overpowering. For a fine dining restaurant it was way too loud mainly as there was a large group of men who looked like they'd been sitting and drinking for some time so it was rowdy.

We had a very enjoyable evening at Lucios with some friends, but it was way overpriced for what we received. The entrees were way better value than the mains and dessert. My main of pork cheeks was really just three small portions of fat. The cannoli dessert was very disappointing, three very small cannoli. I left feeling still hungry. However, the service and atmosphere were great, maybe I just made bad menu choices.

Disappointed. Since when does longevity give three old men the right to behave badly in a fine dining restaurant? Last night, we had the misfortune to be seated near a table of three older men who swore loudly and frequently, behaving as if they were the only patrons. My husband had specifically chosen Lucio's for his birthday dinner, hoping for a good experience such as we have had on several occasions previously, so this experience did nothing to set the mood for the evening. I know there is little a restaurant can do about appalling behaviour on the part of customers but I am sure the owner, who spent some time engaged in conversation with them, could have discouraged their behaviour. On a positive note, the food was as carefully prepared and delicious as it almost always is and, other than the fact that they had "sold out" of oysters by 8:00 pm, my husband's first choice for his first course, we could not fault the chef. On the other hand, the service was slow, abrupt, faulty and cold. The waiter who served us has served us several times in the past. I accept that his demeanor may be part of his heritage but he requires intervention and further training in appropriate behaviour for serving customers - or perhaps he should find a new career in which he is not required for face-to-face interaction with the public. We waited interminably for our desserts, asking ourselves whether our order had not been placed, perhaps. My husband eventually asked where they were. Overall, delayed and thoughtless service coloured the experience we had and we were truly disappointed.

Deserves the hats and accolades. This is essential Sydney dining. The welcome and introduction perfect. These guys are pros. Real pros. Even Italian! I'm loving it before we sit down.

I ordered a black handkerchief pasta with seafood for entree, a roast duck dish for mains, and a chocolate five ways for dessert. These dishes will change from time to time in keeping with whatever is in season, in fact, the menu has already changed since I ate there a month ago. I believe the black handkerchief pasta is a staple though, so I do recommend that dish – it’s a very different style of pasta and those who have only ever had typical spaghetti, penne and fusilli might find it too different. However, once you get over the slightly glossier texture, the dish is really quite unique and delicious!

The food was so nice!! I absolutely loved it. We received complementary entrees of marinated olives and grissini, and we also ordered some extras for the table..

. One of Lucio’s Chefs began preparing the tagliatelle from scratch, while Lucio walked us through the process of making his soffrito of figs and prosciutto to complement the pasta. The smell of the salty prosciutto sitting on top of the sweetness of the figs with two men cooking in plain sight was simply torturous!

Following our visit to L'étoile it seemed our dining-out bugs had well and truly been bitten. So with Dr King's birthday being just around the corner, this was excuse enough for Kiki to arrange a surprise dinner for him to enjoy one of his favourite cuisi

Brings Dante to mind ... I was vividly reminded of Dante’s words '.. e poi, quasi sdegnoso, mi dimando: “Chi fuor li maggior tui” ‘ after my first experience lunching at Lucio’s with a friend today. The first thing Farinata degli Uberti (a Florentine of distinguished ancestry) says to Dante in Canto X of the Inferno – sitting in his flaming tomb for eternity – “Then he asked, almost in distain: ‘Who were your ancestors’” <br/>While the food was truly excellent – the service and atmosphere asked a different question – were we somehow below it’s required standard? Maybe it’s just a Paddington thing – who knows?

Heaven for the middle aged foodie. Reliably high quality haute Italian fare, excellent wine list, service and surrounds. Lamentable coffee the only downer.

Got told to eat here by a friend who used to live in Sydney. Was quite disappointed all round. Previous user hit the nail on the head with the poor value for money. The food is ok but definitely 20 - 30% overpriced. Is not in the same league as most of Sydney's top restaurants charging the same prices. Look elsewhere.

Our walk through the streets of Paddington was topped off by a stop at Lucios for coffee. We asked if they could do coffee in the street. Not only did they do excellent coffee, but added freshly baked Italian biscuit. Then the owner would not accept any payment for this! Amazing... restores ones faith in service and hospitality.

Fine dining Italian Style. The consistency of great service and atmosphere at Lucios is the best compliment to exceptional food and an excellent list of Australian and Italian wine Fresh hand made pastas are hard to resist, whether one of the daily specials or the perennial favorites of black ink rag pasta and seafood withgarlic a hint of chilli and generous drizzle of olive oil , which I must always mop up with a bread roll, rivaling the rag pasta is the fresh green tagliatelle with a very generous serving of blu swimmer crab lubricated with a sweet rich tomato sauce, a favourite on the menu for over thirty years, the only hard decision is whether to have the pasta as a starter or a main when the fish is always perfectly cooked as is the risotto and duck with extra crispy skin! a special occasion restaurant where everyone is made to feel relaxed and at home!

Worst experience ever. Me and my wife have been for the first time to this restaurant because we are Italians and enjoy tasting different regional cuisines from Italy. We saw good reviews on the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide (2 hats) and we had high expectations form this restaurant. Unfortunately we had the worst dining experience of our life because of the owner incredible arrogance and total lack of customer orientation. We were sitting in a corner and my wife made me notice that someone from the kitchen little window was frequently and persistently staring at her. At the end of the dinner I told the waiter about the uncomfortable situation and kindly asked whether it was possible to do something about it. The waiter was quite understanding and informed the Manager Lucio Galletto who, apparently, is also the actual owner; Mr Galletto, instead of finding out whether the issue was true or not and addressing the situation, started to defend the employee (probably the Chef Logan Campbell) "a priori" raising his voice with us in front of all other customers like if we were the ones who were mistaken. He was trying to argue, once again without even finding out what happened from us or the people in the kitchen, that the employee was not looking at us and that - paradoxically - it was me that I was staring at him at that moment. We could not believe how arrogant and rude he was to respond to our complaint that way in front of all other customers. Certainly not a 2 hat restaurant customer treatment or orientation. After that, we felt treated by Lucio Galletto like we were not welcome there and he did not need our business. I believe that when a restaurant owner becomes so arrogant that does not even take into consideration his customers needs/concerns and prefers to defend no matter what his employees' undefendable and uncomfortable behaviours, that restaurant does not deserve so many accolades. We have also been to Buon Ricordo, Beppi and Pilu at Freshwater in the past and their food was also better than Lucio's. I wonder what criteria the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide reviewers apply to appraise restaurants and give hats. We have been to no hat restaurants where the owner or manager was much more willing to accommodate our much less significant issues. Unfortunately Mr Lucio Galletto, being in business since the '80s, has probably developped an arrongant attitude towards unhappy customers and insensitivity to serious customers complaints. It is a pity for the reputation of Italian Restaurants in Sydney, that he, as president of the Council of Italian Restaurants in Australia, is supposed to represent ...

Dropped in one Thursday at 9:30pm. Even though the restaurant was emptying we were welcomed and treated fabulously. Highly professional operation Great service and beautiful food and wine.

Tasting menu was fantastic. Great Friendly service. The beat Italian food outsde of Tuscany :)

Could this be sydney's best Italian restaurant???