Don-Luciano's Place

I have visited Don Luciano's numerous times, in a group and with just my husband.
We have always been treated like the only guests there. "Don" has a great sense of humour. We are never rushed, food is always fresh and produce is locally purchased. A few times we have been treated to whatever "Don" was brewing in the kitchen, like fresh mushroom soup and on our anniversary a toast with the staff with Limoncello. Highly recommend!

I agree.....CHEF RAMSEY please help this place!!! Pasta had absolutely no flavor, salad consisted of romaine lettuce drenched in balsamic vinegar. GROSS!!!! Would rather open a can of Alphaghetti than eat here again

Having purchased a Groupon, we thought it was time to make the trip from Kingsville to try out this restaurant that quite a few on this website have highly recommended.

The place is very cute from the outside so we had high hopes upon entering. There is not a lot of seating inside and to the left of the entrance is an interior a door which was open that showed much clutter and appeared to be their stock room.....which I was going to let slide because of the small space.

After being seated, I was able to sit and check out the surroundings that are desperately in need of redecorating. The tiny wine glasses on the table were filthy with fingerprints and the cutlery was dollar store quality. As were the salt and pepper shakers.

The waitress was prompt and quickly brought us very fresh bread with tomatoes and oil. She then took our orders which we had to repeat twice because she didn't write it down and forgot. A very drippy salad made its way to our table-not too bad. And the pasta promptly followed which again was not bad, Then the waitress tried to serve us additional salads because she forgot she had served us them already-duh.

I ordered the veal with lemon and no potatoes and extra veggies. My husband ordered the the grilled quail (only to find out they were out of stock) and settled for grilled chicken breast with potatoes.

It was the most disappointing-and I mean mean disappointing-food we have ever had. The salt on each dinner could part the red sea and the veal showed up with potatoes and was tough, soaking in a bed of oil and lemon. The vegetables were frozen and limpy and a pure disappointment with all the fresh produce on the stands in this area.

The kitchen is visible and a stack of dirty dishes started to pile up on the counter. Clearly the other reviews are friends or family because this is the saddest eating establishment that we have ever been to with the exception of Gettysburg !!!!!!!

Paying the bill was also a challenge. We paid it using our credit card. . There was nowhere on the hand held debit to leave a tip (not that it was deserved).. The man said "oh we will ring that in later on a separate transaction". We asked how that could be when we have taken our card back. We told him that he would have to do it now and give us a receipt showing the full amount.

I'm sorry that this place is still in business and being recommended. Don't waste your time or hard earned money. I'm an amazing cook and pride myself on fresh, well prepared meals.

This was a sad,sad, sad experience.

We ate there for thanksgiving dinner during the weekend, since they are closed on Thanksgiving. It was like eating at a lovely home. The service is very personal. He even brought out special thai sauce for my son's meal, and poured amaretto on our dessert. I would eat there again definately. Its not some place I would go if I wanted to be alone with my lover tho.

We have gone to this restaurant at least several times each year. Luciano is a creative, entertaining and inspired host - you feel as though you have arrived in Italy and the atmosphere is one of casual and rustic dining - the food is excellent - never have had a disappointing meal and the staff treats us as family. If you go, don't be rushed, half the enjoyment is savoring each part of the meal, the local wines and having a shot of limoncella to cap off the meal. Have recommended to many - an intimate trattoria.

I have no idea what restaurant everyone went to or maybe it was just totally different people working when we were there. We could see the kitchen staff working, yes we could. And I could barely eat my food as a result. There were so many food safety violations going on in that kitchen I was certain we would both be ill after dining there. The "friendly owner" everyone loved stood a few feet from us and stared at us while we ate, occasionally yelling "best you've ever tasted, right?" at us during the meal. No one ever came to actually ASK us if it was okay ........and it wasn't. My dish was a ridiculous mess of everything but the kitchen sink thrown into a bowl of pasta that could feed 4 people. The waitress was very confused when I politely declined taking home the leftovers. We had great entertainment though. Some scuzzy looking guys came in off the street and appeared to purchase some wine in brown paper bags from the owner and then leave. When did they get their LCBO license??
Felt like we were in an episode of the soprano's...except the food was terrible. The server almost fell out of her top....I'm sure the gentlemen who frequent this place enjoy that and maybe are in a trance so they can't actually taste the food.

Chef Luco is the Chef to see. What I like about his restaurant is that you can see him cooking while you are in the dining room waiting for the food. The wine is local - Which I find to be of great importance. You can try various Ontario wines, from Amherstburg, Leamington, Essex, Harrow, Niagara Falls, and many more.
His fish comes straight from the fish market in Windsor, as well as his beef, which is bought just on the outskirts of the city.

My favorite were his appetizers which are brought out immediately as we sat down (which were free). Simple yet so delicious, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and warm bread, accompanied with pickled button mushrooms (local grown in Amherstburg) which just melted in my mouth.

The staff was great. Our smoked salmon meal was - wow. The atmosphere was busy...almost packed restaurant...with everyone mingling amongst themselves happily..

Going back for sure!!

Ps. Greatest and most freshest mussels I have ever eaten...

Why travel to erie st. When you can visit Don Luciano's.
Papa Lucio makes all of his guests feel at home at the food is ALWAYS FRESH AND PORTIONS ARE REASONABLE.
Luciano has always been very entertaing and generous unlike some very uptight restauranters on good old'erie st.

"its my way or the highway" says the lovely italian character luciano mancini who owns this fabulous restaurant. a romantic fall night, sitting on the outdoor patio, listening to jazz, drinking a flavorful bottle of local wine with the best rib steaks i've had in my life. this place is worth the drive, worth the border, worth the traffic.. this place is an italian slicE of heaven. I read the other reviews, all were great but one. don't know what drugs that guy was on, cause this place was great! i'm glad I did not follow his advice but listened to the others! I will be returning OFTEN!

Food and Service is excellent! Mike was our server, very attentive and professional.Don Luciano visited our table, very congenial & friendly.Will most assuredly return as visit our hometown again. Resident of Steubenville, Ohio