Lucali (Reported Closed)

Recommends

astridplt

Joined 7 years ago

A Slice of Heaven. If you want to go to heaven minus the dying part, go to Lucali. This pizza lover’s paradise is magical. The pie is thin and crunchy at the crust, with a sweet and savory tomato sauce recipe that Mario Batali would love to get his hands on. Two types of mozzarella are used in a plain pie and meats and vegetables are fresh and change daily (try the imported olive-oil cured artichoke hearts from Italy if they have them). They only make pizza and calzones here, so if you are looking for a salad or antipasti to start, you are out of luck. Plain pies start at $21, but this place is BYOB, so it all evens out. To get a table can be somewhat tricky; you either call at 6pm on the dot the evening of, or you can stand in line and wait (when the weather is nice, you will wait for a long time, so bring some friends and a brown bag). But this isn’t just another pizza joint, this place has class; the soft candle light, the Italian opera soaring to the rafters and the very handsome chef/owner Mark Lacona kneading dough in front of a wood burning fire pizza grill all combine to make Lucali a very special experience.

Doesn't Recommend

ilovenewuork

Joined 3 years ago

Rude, rude, rude, not good!. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, so many better places to eat in Brooklyn and who needs the hassle. I wouldn't eat there again if they paid me. If I hadn't been with friends I wouldn't have suffered the wait in the first place but having been told it was worth it we stupidly waited and waited, the wait time going from 30 mins to another 30mins etc etc. It was so bad it was comical, a night to remember but do yourself a favor and avoid.

Doesn't Recommend

mmmyum

Joined 4 years ago

food decent, wait staff could be better, wait is horrendous. Thought it'd be a pleasant pizza eating experience so thought we'd check it out-- the wait absolutely killed it. We were told (by a could-be-friendlier wait staff) that we'd have to wait an hour, we sat down more than 2 hours later. Made for an unpleasant start of our first pizza eating experience there. As for the food, it's decent but nothing too special-- having eaten at plenty of other pizza places in the city, can't recommend it too highly.

Sorry, but will not likely return ever again.

Recommends

brooklynjoc

Joined 4 years ago

Wonderful food and atmosphere. incredible pizza and wonderful spot to dine! if you come on the weekend, be prepared to wait! it's generally better (if you can) to come early on a week night. it's worth it!!

Doesn't Recommend

hailiesong

Joined 5 years ago

Great Food but Bring LOTS of money!!. I have been to Lucali a handful of times. I always love the vibe and the food is definately delicious.

Last night I went again - bringing a friend from out of town - thinking it would be a scrumptious/inexpensive option. I was so-so wrong.

We brought our own wine. Ordered a small calzone + a lg. pie (only option) each had two toppings. The bill (without booze, and we are talking pizza here) was 63.00 with tip! We were floored! One topping was 8 dollars ... 8 dollars !! Just saying.

SO - I am really amazed that this Brooklyn joint deep in Carroll Gardens has gotten so out of whack. Keep that in mind - I mean this is New York...pizza & bagels are the specialty.

Recommends

chaddickerson

Joined 5 years ago

Maybe the best pizza I've ever had. My wife and I arrived at Lucali at 6pm (when it opened) and had to wait about an hour for a table. It was worth it, though. Beautiful atmosphere with great lighting and a generally warm neighborhood feeling all around. The owner makes the pizza at a table at the back of the restaurant.

The pie was superb (they also have calzones, but that's it) It's BYOB, so if you want beer or wine with your dinner, be sure to bring it along. Highly recommended.

Doesn't Recommend

noords

Joined 5 years ago

Excellent pizza... but everything else makes it an annoying experience not worth revisiting. My wife and I and a few friends went there a few times when it just opened. We were extremely pleased with the excellent pizza and the atmosphere inside was kind of pleasant and it sure is a great value...

However, the third time I went to get take out, they made me wait for it for an hour and 45 minutes. The fourth time we went we had to wait over two hours, so after that I tried making reservations which they don't take since they don't pick up the phone. So don't try calling in a take out order either. Then, I went over there again for take out and the consistently rude, short and irritable hostess told me and another guy to wait until she was able to take our take out orders. We waited for 25 minutes, patiently, until the crowd outside had been seated after which she still didn't turn to us. When reminded, she snapped that she would be taking any take-out orders for another hour. I was so ready to give up on this place that had irritated me so many times already, but after a week or two my wife and I tried to give it one more try because we still liked the pizza... we show up early, it is packed and freezing outside. The hostess tells us to wait outside for about an hour. There are some chairs by the counter so we ask to wait there and get a drink. She tells us the chairs are just there to make sure "nobody stands there, and we can't wait by the door either". nice! Get over yourself, it's just pizza for god's sake.

This place is to into itself for its own good. Pizza is great but not worth the hassle.

Recommends

MohammedSingh

Joined 5 years ago

Great Taste. Not really sure what their secret is, I think its the sesame seed, but it tastes great. Best Pizza I ever had.

definately recomend you try it

Recommends

RodrigoW

Joined 5 years ago

Best pizza... if you get a chance to eat it!. The best pizza pie ever. I went there two times only... the first they had a problem with the staff and I had to eat my pizza outside, with a cool wind. The second time (Oct 4th, 2008), I tried to call first to know if they would be open that day and if I could make a reservation, but I got the voicemail.

Well, I got there and there was a crowd outside. I called a few minutes before and the hostess said that they were not taking more tables that day. As I got there, other 2 groups were included in the waiting list, after we spoke to the hostess... We left the place without the pizza and we may never go back there.

It's the best pizza, but my experience has not been that good...

Recommends

bklynfoodie21

Joined 5 years ago

Best Calzone!. I am a pizza fanatic and grew up in an Italy, so I know what fresh is! Last night was the first time and certainly not the last time I would be going to Lucali. They use the freshest ingredients and Owner/Chief actually grads fresh cheese onto the pizza and in the calzone's. This is something you usually don?t see when you go to other pizza places. It is a BYOB, no reservations taken and has a limited menu but I wouldn?t change anything about the place. Food is fresh; Ambiance is alluring and overall a great experience.