Ristorante Lucca & Piano Lounge (Lucca) is the ultimate fine dining destination in South Jersey. While it’s on the northernmost cusp, right on the South/Central dividing line, Lucca at 144 Route 130 in Bordentown is firmly in the South Jersey Food Scene coverage area, or anywhere south of Interstate 195.
Lucca is undeniably one of the most luxurious restaurants in our region. The transformation from the legendary Mastoris Diner to a world-class restaurant is stunning! When Lucca opened two years ago, skeptics wondered if people in the area would embrace it. Now, two years later, it is thriving and expanding, proving that a restaurant of this caliber deserves a place here and should be on everyone’s visit list.
Rediscover Fine Dining in South Jersey
When you arrive and step inside, you are greeted by a magnificent atmosphere and treated to one of our area’s most refined dining experiences without crossing bridges right here in South Jersey. Everything at Lucca is on the “next level” and exudes excellence in every sense of the word. While it may seem a bit extravagant, this is the kind of dining that we all deserve to enjoy in our lives! So, let’s dive in.
From the finest Italian cuisine to exceptional hospitality, Lucca boasts an unparalleled experience designed to impress and stimulate all the senses. Just steps inside the restaurant, beyond the entrance and reception area, right before the main dining room, a refrigerated case proudly displays fresh fish and prime meats in the restaurant’s foyer, a bold statement about its commitment to quality, and serves as a visual prelude to its offerings.
Esteemed General Manager Giuseppe “Pino” Algeri greets each guest and explains the provenance of the selections available. He is sure to emphasize that the fish is freshly caught, never farmed or frozen, and the meats are USDA Prime. Showing off the high-quality provisions sets the tone for what is to come.
Pino’s presence starts there but certainly doesn’t end there, as he escorts each party to their table and visits every table personally, ensuring everyone’s experience is superlative. Your every need is handled from beginning to end, making you feel quite pampered. It should be noted that co-owner and managing partner William Burris is also a friendly presence at the restaurant and makes himself available to all guests.
The entire waitstaff excels in catering to each guest’s needs. The hospitality professionals bring a certain international savior faire, offering a sophisticated touch to your dining adventure. You’ll feel transported to a fine restaurant in Italy!
Lucca is a world-class restaurant in our backyard; you will feel it in every interaction and bite of food prepared by a first-class culinary team. But, make no mistake, it is a restaurant for everyone to enjoy, as each guest receives a warm welcome and ample attention throughout their meal.
The elegant dining room features thoughtfully designed furniture, plush carpets, soft lighting, fine artwork, and formal table setting, ensuring maximum comfort and an aesthetically pleasing experience for guests. A feast for the eyes, for sure!
Not only will guests marvel over the gorgeous dining room, but they are treated to a strolling violinist, which adds to an already grand atmosphere. Luigi Nicolae casually and gracefully saunters throughout the room regaling diners with jazz standards, classical favorites, and he takes requests, too! Upon our visit, we asked if he had any Lady Gaga in his repertoire and sure enough he did. Amazing! His presence adds another level of elegance to your time at Lucca.
The Culinary Team at Ristorante Lucca
Lucca truly encapsulates everything one could desire in a fine dining experience. However, the undeniable highlight remains its exquisite cuisine.
Renowned Executive Chef Maurizio Peccolo oversees the culinary program at Lucca with the skill of a Michelin-starred chef. Lucca would be a strong contender if Michelin represented in our region. Under his tutelage, he manages a culinary team of dozens who demonstrate the highest professionalism in a commercial kitchen.
Their official website boasts: “Ristorante LUCCA serves elevated Italian fare that marries regional delicacies with the exacting standards of global culinary excellence. Our menu showcases our old-school obsession with serving only the best, most premier dishes from across the Italian peninsula…”
Lucca prioritizes top-tier ingredients, ensuring every dish exceeds expectations. Everyone in the Lucca kitchen has honed expertise at the highest execution level. Under the meticulous guidance of Peccolo, the kitchen team consistently delivers brilliance. Backed by a massive and fully modernized state-of-the-art kitchen, this five-star operation achieves culinary distinction of the upper stratum.
The Culinary Experience at Ristorante Lucca
The first of many gourmet delights we were treated to, was their Colossal Seafood Tower, featuring sumptuous portions of King Crab Legs, Fresh Oysters and Clams, Lump Crab Meat, Super Colossal Shrimp, Scallop Ceviche, Langoustines, Lobster Tails, Octopus, and Tuna Tartare. It came with fresh lemons and a variety of housemade sauces. This showstopping tower would impress any seafood lover! We barely left a morsel.
While the seafood tower was a feast in itself, we couldn’t pass up the Beef Tartare with Castelvetrano Olives, Capers and EVOO. Beef tartare is a luxurious delicacy that’s become synonymous with fine dining. While consuming ‘raw’ meat may not appeal to some, it is a celebration of very high-quality and lean steak that has been meticulously prepared to ensure both safety and exceptional flavor. Traditional Beef Tartare is often served with a raw egg yolk as a garnish, this version did not. Despite the deviation, this dish offered a modern interpretation that retained its classic charm and still delighted every palate at our table.
The Art of Tableside Service at Ristorante Lucca
One of the most alluring parts of fine dining is witnessing the art of tableside service, a craft that Lucca has elevated to an exceptional standard.
Among the many culinary performances offered at Lucca, the preparation of their iconic Caesar salad stands out as a shining example of elegance and skill. Guided by the expertise of their server extraordinaire, Salvatore, this tableside creation transforms a simple salad into an memorable experience. Salvatore’s remarkable ability to blend performative hospitality with technical precision ensures that every guest feels both entertained and indulged.
Building on the elegance of his Caesar salad presentation, Salvatore continues to dazzle with another tableside marvel: Gli Spaghetti al Cacio e Pepe, or Cacio e Pepe prepared tableside. This beloved Italian classic is transformed into a spectacle of flavor and artistry, captivating diners with its theatrical preparation.
At the heart of this performance is a beautifully aged wheel of Locatelli cheese, meticulously prepared for this unique presentation. The center of the wheel is carved out, creating a deep well from which the cheese can be scraped to produce a rich, velvety sauce. The transformation begins with a touch of vodka, poured into the cheese well to soften the shavings and create a malleable base for the sauce. The vodka is briefly lit aflame, creating a mesmerizing display of flickering light and excitement. The flames not only captivate visually but also enhance the cheese’s creaminess, allowing it to melt into a luxurious sauce.
Once the cheese is perfectly softened, the freshly cooked pasta is added directly to the wheel. Salvatore expertly tossed the spaghetti, ensuring each strand was generously coated with the luscious cheese sauce. The pasta absorbs the flavors, while the residual heat melds the ingredients together into a harmonious dish.
Another flawless tableside show was the expert hand-cutting of the 38 oz. Black Angus USDA Prime T-Bone Steak and Rack of Colorado Lamb, which were triumphant examples of the superior grade of meats that Lucca offers. Our party also enjoyed the 8 oz. Black Angus Prime Center Cut Filet Mignon and Housemade Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce. Everything was cooked to absolute perfection and completed a culinary grand slam!
From beginning to end, it was a gustatory tour de force—a fine dining feat that must be experienced to be believed. I fear my photos and words do not do Lucca justice, but I tried!
World Class Wines at Ristorante Lucca
A restaurant of Lucca’s caliber would be expected to have a world-class wine program, yes? Lead by Wine Director Daniel Bossi, an distinguished sommelier, Lucca has sourced and curated an exceptional wine menu representing the finest vineyards from every region of Italy.
And There’s More!
The entire experience at Lucca can be fully described as immersive. It will feel like time has stopped and you’re transported to another time and place. Every sense will be stimulated and leave you feeling a little euphoric, quite honestly. Especially when, after enjoying your awe-inspiring meal in the dining room, you adjourn to the separate Piano Lounge to be entertained by phenomenal musical talent in an intimate and swank venue. It has everything you’d expect in a stylish jazz lounge… atmospheric lighting, rich acoustics, and cozy design.
After our dinner, we were delighted by a performance from Paula Johns, a Philadelphia-based accomplished cabaret singer and jazz vocalist. While we enjoyed our dessert (including Chef Peccolo’s famous tiramisu) and some post-dinner drinks, we wound down the evening in appropriate style in the lounge; singing out the night along with other patrons, and with a little dancing, too. It truly was the cherry on the top of an incredible and unforgettable evening that will go down as one of our favorite dining experiences ever.
I cannot say enough good things about Ristorante Lucca. I hope I have piqued your interest enough to consider putting this unprecedented dining destination in New Jersey on your list to visit in 2025. In fact, you should fast-track it! I have a few videos which I will be uploading and sharing to my social media accounts and YouTube in the near future.
But again, I say, this establishment must be experienced. It really is a welcome addition to the entire Delaware Valley’s dining scene. There is NOTHING else like this in our immediate area. It has everything you could ever want (and more) in a fine dining destination. You will LOVE it when you go, I promise! You deserve it. 🙂
Keep in mind, they also offer Wine Dinners and Catering/Private Events. Coming soon in 2025 – a grand ballroom and event venue, too.
We appreciate the invitation to experience Ristorante Lucca & Piano Lounge. Opinions are our own.
All photos by Marilyn Johnson should not be used without permission.
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