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Welcome to Café Luce

Café Luce, a charming Italian pasta shop and wine bar in the heart of New York City, offers a cozy and intimate dining experience. With spacious portions perfect for sharing, their fresh pasta dishes like rigatoni carbonara and gnocchi pesto are a must-try. The ambiance is inviting, and the attentive staff adds to the overall experience. Customers rave about the delicious lasagna, meatballs, and must-try bruschetta pomodoro. Although some dishes may need a touch of improvement, the overall quality and value make Café Luce a standout in the bustling Midtown East area. A reservation is recommended to enjoy this quaint spot fully.

Café Luce: Reviews & Ratings

Dani L.
Dani L.

Delicious and fresh pasta! The sizes of the plates are big so you can definitely share a pasta between two. The service is great and the inside of the restaurant is so cozy! It was packed so make sure you reserve beforehand! We had the rigatoni carbonara, gnocchi pesto, and Milanese with salad and a side of spaghetti. The prices are also great and the quality of food is good too. They have an extensive wine list which was nice. Definitely recommend! I'll be coming back for sure. They also had great music playing, very quaint and cozy spot in midtown East.

Lisa Z.
Lisa Z.

Came here for brunch on the weekend and it's definitely super busy and lively. The place has a cute cozy vibe and all the servers were very helpful and friendly. The space is a little bit packed tight when it's full but noise level isn't too loud. We got the below pasta dishes and all of them tasted amazing. The portions were pretty big too considering some Manhattan places skimp out on portions a lot even with a higher price. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you're looking to dine in during brunch or dinner hours. Would definitely visit again if I'm ever in the immediate area. Had a great experience here.

Maria M.
Maria M.

Highly recommend making a reservation even though we just walked in. Cozy, beautiful and intimate place. Service was great and food was excellent. Started with bruschetta pomodoro. This is a must! Then I had the meatballs with fresh made spaghetti and the freshest tomato sauce ever made. You have to try it for yourself. Wish I had discovered them at the beginning of my trip so I could go back and try different things. The meatballs were tender and juicy. This is a MUST!

Anna T.
Anna T.

The ambiance is beautiful, intimate and inviting. We went later on a Thursday night and there were only a few other diners with us. The staff was wonderful and attentive. We ordered a few glasses of wine, a Caesar salad, Penne Vodka and Pesto gnocchi. We were very happy with the portions. The pesto could use some improvement, wasn't very flavorful. Everything else was fantastic. Bathroom was cute and clean. Definitely a nice date night spot.

Yuna C.
Yuna C.

Cute space tucked away in Midtown to provide a homey and intimate getaway/ambience! While I was initially taken aback by the pasta prices (considering any protein is an additional charge of at least $6), the portions are very generous - you'll definitely leave either full or taking home leftovers! The Meatballs came out very promptly with the delicious, toasted Focaccia. Our pastas were served more delayed than anticipated but it was good to have a break. My Limoncello pasta was zesty (even the server asked me in advance if I liked lemon cause this pasta was very lemony - he wasn't lying!) but it cuts through the heaviness/any greasiness from the egg-based cream sauce. I thought it was delicious and moreish - especially adds a new depth of flavor with some freshly cracked pepper and red chili flakes.

Whitney M.
Whitney M.

Yasssssss... Okay, first of all, I have had amazing lasagna. The kind that you refer all other lasagnas to. The kind that you dream about having as a pillow. Or dream about carrying around like a purse. Or living inside like a cute little cheesey house. Or or or.... Okay I'm getting carried away. This lasagna has taken over that top spot in my heart. It was so good and huge and I ate all but the courtesy bite. Not for courtesy's sake, but because I thought I might explode if I ate any more. I still had shopping and tree viewing ahead of me. The apps were all tasty, the wine was good, the atmosphere was phenomenal and cozy af.

Hani A.
Hani A.

Came here for a late light dinner on a Friday night without reservations and we were seated instantly. We ordered their spinach salad with a side of chicken. The salad was great, the walnut inside the salad was glazed. The amount of dressing with perfect but the grilled chicken came out to be dry. Their meatballs was ok but nothing that special. We also ordered their Nutella tiramisu which I found to be too sweet, it didn't feel taste much like a tiramisu to me. Their Panna cotta was good covered with berries and strawberries syrup. Overall I would rate this place 3.5 stars

Location

  • Café Luce
    235 E 53rd St New York, NY 10022 Hotline: (646) 590-2777

Welcome to Café Luce, a cozy and intimate Italian pasta shop located in the heart of New York City. This women-owned establishment offers a wide range of pasta dishes, paired with an extensive wine list and served in a charming ambiance.

Upon visiting Café Luce, you can expect generous portion sizes, friendly and attentive service, and a lively atmosphere. The reviews from customers rave about the quality and freshness of the pasta dishes, with standout options like rigatoni carbonara, gnocchi pesto, and Milanese with salad. The meatballs and freshly made spaghetti are also highly recommended.

In addition to the delicious food, Café Luce offers a range of amenities for guests, including the option to make reservations, takeout, and delivery services, making it a convenient choice for both dine-in and take-home meals. The restaurant also prides itself on sustainability, offering compostable containers and plastic-free packaging.

Overall, Café Luce provides a delightful dining experience with flavorful dishes, cozy ambiance, and excellent service. Whether you're looking for a date night spot, a weekend brunch destination, or a place to enjoy a delicious pasta meal, Café Luce is a must-visit in New York City.