Lucio

Since it opened three years ago, Lucio's has in my view matured into one of the best, and the best value Italian restaurants in West London. Yes, at first, the staff were inexpereinced, but now have settled down, there is an eclectic mix of customers young and old, families and couples - and conspicuously often, many Italians. The two course lunch at £15.50 is extremely good value although I agree that It would be a relief to see a less expensive house white wine. The menu changes often, and there are many old favourites and new specialities which make every visit there a fresh experience. The dishes I have enjoyed include the light and crispy puntarelle salad, the rich and hearty pappardelle with hare sauce, the rolled paillard of chicken breast stuffed with spinach, excellent fish, and a very good seafood pasta. Lucio himself is a charming and attentive host, and if some thing is not right, he is on the ball immediately.

Bring back proper old-fashioned hosts, I say, and let's have fewer celeb chefs who aren't in their restaurant anyway, because they're appearing on tv tonight instead of in their kitchens
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Alasdair Sutherland
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, May 14, 2009

This restaurant is much better value during the day, they have the fabulous set menu, very reasonably priced for this high-end restaurant (we are talking the middle of Chelsea here). I think that it is about 26 pounds for 3 courses or thereabouts.

However, at night it is overpriced. An example: £13 pounds for the boring and underwhelming tomato/mozzarella starter salad. I have had better buffalo mozzarella from a supermarket, sorry. Don't mind paying £££, but it has to be a bit special for that starter price.

It is a very nicely appointed restaurant, but a bit stiff in the evening, due to very uptight, serious, bottoxed out, big haired Chelsea set (imagine many Joan Rivers and unnaturally polished people in there. They can't crack a smile otherwise their whole face would fall apart). Lots of old people, too (I guess they are the ones who can afford dinner prices, and an occassional "celebrity").

So this restaurant has two faces: daytime one, much cheerier and lighter, great food, which I highly reccomend, and the evening one, hmmm, not to my taste, both price, atmosphere and clientelle wise.

The owner, Lucio, is charming, though, a top class maitre d'.

Overall, well worth a visit, but if you are not loaded try to visit during lunch.
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Anita
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Lucio is a great Italian restaurant in the South Kensington/Chelsea area.

For me Lucio is a high-end trattoria where good traditional Italian dishes with a twist are served. The cuisine is more oriented towards northern Italian which means no pizza, which one should be aware of. The owner is ex-San Lorenzo for many years and left to set this lovely place.

The plates are a bit pricey in the evenings, which is to be expected given its location. At lunch this is completeley different matter, the meals become an absolute steal (for the price/quality that is).

I hope that enough people attend it so that the cash flow during this crisis keeps it alive but not so many that the lunch deals and seating availability dissapear...

Great Chelsea eatery...
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chribson - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, January 18, 2009

Visited for the first time this week - Monday in August and in mid-credit crunch and the restaurant was almost full! Fantastic service and delicious food. Highly recommended.
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Dan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, August 14, 2008

I dont agree with the other review,as I dont think is elegant and fashionable restaurant. I was invited last Saturday dinner,and my first impression wasnt that good to see a big sofa in middle of the entrance,just to have more space to put more table.

We wait at the bar for a drink as our table wasnt ready, and I have notice the barman with long beard not very good impression jet.

Finally our table is ready and Lucio took us there,and I start to look at the menu,nothing that special is a standard Italian menu,and i think is overpriced.

The food wasnt that bad I had a risotto with summer truffle,and a beef tagliata,which was reasonable size.

Personally is not my type of restaurant as table are too close each other and too small.

Still think that Zafferano is the top Italian in London
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M. Lee
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

I love this restaurant. The whole experience has always been great. Whenever I go for dinner, it feels like being back in one of the fine restaurants in Milan my home town. The Food is good quality and offers a great choice and the specials are never disappointing. The service is very attentive and meticulous and the atmosphere is elegant and yet warm. Just one of my favourite italian restaurants in London
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 29, 2007

Loved it! Absolutely delicious food. It came highly recommended by friends and I now understand why. I can't wait to go again.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, April 27, 2007

Went there on Monday night thought it would be pretty quite but it was nearly full. The staff were attentive and knowledgable although we got sat next to a table of smokers not great problem but would have been niced to have been offered a choice.

The food was very good, classic italian food tidied up a little for the Chelsea set.

Portion are very good size but not so big that you cant fit in all three courses. I have read comments on the wine list and since I work in the trade I can say it is a great selection of what italy has to offer at not exorbitant prices. All in all a good dining experience with good waiters and good value only £60 a head, The only thing i can fault it for was a slight lack of ambiance it was a little too polished for my tastes. A safe bet if you dont fancy taking risks
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Charlie Goblet
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Very pleasant. Went there on the 19th December with friends including an Italian chap. He chose the wines although the red wasn't that great to be honest...

Still, Lucio is charming and gave all the girls a Christmas present when we left – an absolute charmer.

Good, but not as good as the Enotecca Turi in Putney (ho ho..)
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Bibes
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Fantastic place, great, properly cooked and lovely presented modern Italian food. Charming owner (Lucio), nice atmosphere, attentive staff.

This place is a winner. And very unpretentious, too, considering it is in Chelsea. Top marks.
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Mrs M
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, December 29, 2006