
This
place just keeps getting better.
Right next door to Canaltown Coffee
on East Avenue, this place used to be another Italian Restaurant
called the "Taste Of
Italy". Taste Of Italy was better but this place
is ok. The decor is late Jack Greco. We will have to go back and
give it a second chance because it was not memorable for some
reason.
___
Second chance came and we were delighted!
We ordered one of the specials-a veal smothered in roasted garlic.
The cut of meat was incredibly tender and tasty. Lucano's is run
by a husband-wife team and the chef is a woman. They greet you
in Italian and really care about the food and the service. Both
came over to our table to check on how our meals were. This place
is a little pricey but worth it.
___
Third visit: We took my parents here
for one of their birthdays (even though they're not Italian food
fans, but we figured it's not really a spaghetti and meatballs
place). It wasn't as magical as our second visit. We ordered the
veal but it wasn't as good a cut of meat or as flavorful as our
second visit. We also ordered Penne Pasta which was probably the
dish we had the first time. Just not very interesting. Maybe the
key is to go with the specials?
___
Our
fourth visit was the best yet. The restaurant was full on a Wednesday
night. Same chef. I ordered the Manicotti special and my wife
ordered a salmon and shrimp combo. Both were fantastic. Tom Gollisano
was holding court in the back room and laughing heartily.
___
Fifth
time was heavenly. As we stood in the doorway, waiting to be seated,
we spotted the chef, Silvana Formoso. We asked her what she recommended
and she suggested a tasting menu. We could pick the price and
tell the server which kind of things to stay away from. We had
three courses and each was superb. The waitress told us that "Sylvia
did not go to chef school but just loves cooking and throwing
things together in the kitchen." This place just keeps getting
better.
See
the Democrat & Chronicle's review
of Lucannos.
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