I was craving areal-deal (non-chain) dining option, and Luciano's hit the spot. I was warmly welcomed by Ruth to my preferred seating option, the bar top. There is a more formal table dining area area also, which was busy w groups. Great service and small talk w bartender Ruth. I had a Martini to start, along the a bread snack. For dinner, I had the Gnocchi with a delish Bolognese sauce. Friendly professional service and excellent fare. read more

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You walk in and the place looks great--very well taken care of, nicely decorated. Unfortunately, that's about the only positive thing I can say about my experience. We came on Valentine's Day for an early 6 PM dinner and were seated right away, which we appreciated. Then we sat for about 20 minutes before anyone even came by to take a drink order. When the waiter finally showed up, we just ordered everything at once to save time. We sat down at 6. Our appetizer didn't arrive until 6:45. Then our entrées didn't come out until 7:35. My wife ordered the surf and turf--filet mignon (medium) and a lobster tail. The filet was burnt to a crisp,look at the way they cut it to cook it, and the lobster tail was so dry and flavorless it was honestly shocking. Probably the worst lobster I've ever tasted. I ordered the stuffed filet of sole, and it was so dry I had to peel off the top layer just to get to the stuffing--which, by the way, tasted spoiled. Overall, the food was a complete disappointment, especially for a place that looks so nice. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Stuffed sole - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

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I came to Luciano in Rahway for a retirement luncheon and had a really great experience. The restaurant was very clean, and the servers were attentive without being overbearing, which made a group event run smoothly. The food was delicious. I'm not even a bread eater, but their warm bread buns were absolutely addictive. I had way too many and have zero regrets. I ordered the salmon, and the portion was perfect, filling without being heavy. It came with risotto, which I normally don't care for, but this one completely changed my mind. It wasn't overly salty, just well balanced and flavorful, and honestly convinced me to give risotto another chance elsewhere in the future. The Caesar salad was extremely fresh and delicious, which I always appreciate because that's not always the case at larger luncheons. Parking was a bit challenging, but they do offer a free parking lot about a block away. Just be careful because there's mud and uneven gravel in that lot. If it's full, there's also a parking garage a few blocks away, so there are options. From what I could tell, the rest of the guests at the luncheon were very happy with their selections as well. Overall, a great experience and a solid spot for both group events and dining out read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

New place after seeing Spyro Gyra in concert. Saturday night, it was not packed, but crowded with no table wait. Started out good and went totally south from that. I can write the totally experience. But you can figure it out just knowing we sat down at 6:50pm. And our appetizers came out at 7:40 and dinner at 8:40pm. We had to call for a waiter to take our order. We were brought rolls and our beverages and drink. That's what we had for nearly 45 mins. We asked for a second bread but it did not come to dinner came. The service was horrible. We were told it was a full house and they were working on getting our food out. The seafood bruschetta was delicious. I had the chicken masala with shrimp as well. It was very good could have used a few more wild mushrooms. But the sauce was really good. Each plate was said to be good. And if I were basing my star rating on food I'd give them 4.5 for taste. But because it took us over 90 mins to get our entrees. That's just unacceptable at any place. Our waiter was not attentive at all. Bobby asked the waiter for a second glass of wine. But never got it. So he didn't ask a second time. The ambiance was nice, the decor was warm, the food good, but horrible horrible service They have there own parking lot, it is small and was full, Rahway has a lot of residential parking, so hard to find street parking. So we parked in a parking garage and walked to the restaurant. read more

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I've been to Luciano's before, but this review is for my most recent trip on Christmas Eve. The normally lovely ambiance of Luciano's was taken up a notch by all of the holiday decorations - nothing overdone, just really nice. The food itself was great - I opted for a rigatoni with steak, and also had a mozzarella appetizer. The mozzarella was good, but the rigatoni was excellent. Great sauce, perfectly cooked pasta. There were a few negatives, though. For what we got, the price was very high. The appetizer was maybe three or four bites and close to twenty dollars. And the service was very, very slow. Pleasant, but slow, and we were there before the Christmas Eve rush. There was a good twenty or thirty minutes between the appetizer and the main course, which I suppose is better than having to wait thirty minutes for the appetizer, but it still was a ponderous pace. I fully expect to be back to Luciano's soon, but I hope the high prices and slow service were just a result of the holiday. read more

The restaurant offered a delightful dinner for about 20 people in our work party. Despite the number, they were very accommodating with dietary requests and going above with providing more portions without being asked. Very friendly professional team. Food was very good from seafood, shrimp/clams/mussels, antipasti platters, salads, pasta, entrees, to mini desserts. The group devoured everything! read more

We went there for dinner on Sunday night. It wasn't crowded. It's a traditional looking restaurant. The food was good and the staff were friendly. Three of us split a salad which was delicious and plenty for us to share. My friend said the chicken parmigiana was one the best he ever had and he's a picky eater. My pork chops were wonderful. The chef made the Mediterranean pasta with marinara sauce for my husband who enjoyed it a lot. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner for a friend. It is a huge restaurant and you can't really tell from the outside. There's street parking but also a parking lot about 300 yards down the street from the establishment (which sits on a corner). I ordered the Branble Berry and Penne Vodka with chicken and spicy. It was really good (food and drink) as well as piping hot (talking temperature). Our server was helpful and even let our group know we could have separate checks Not an easy feat with 12 people seated at the table. Otherwise, even thru the confusion, she kept her cool. read more

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Great service and food. Parking is readily available and they work great with large parties.

Had one of the worst restaurant experience with my husband and two kids. Ordered kids meals of pasta and chicken fingers and buttered pasta as soon as we sat down. That did not come for over an hour of ordering with two very hungry toddlers. Then our apps came, very meh. For our entrees we ordered scallops and Fruitti de mare. The scallops were the worst scallops I have ever tasted mushy and soggy for 42 dollars. The pasta was a soggy flavorless mess! All this after waiting over an hour for our food. We will never be back! No manager even came to speak to us. Wish there was a zero star option. Again, the food was not good, surprising since it is presented as the chef's special. It wasn't good on the day we came, my husband was simply being polite about it. It's unfortunate that the gift card was not available, but to be clear, I was not looking for any reimbursement. I never spoke with anyone who introduced themselves as a manager, and no manager came over to apologize for the long wait for our meals. Overall, it was not a good restaurant experience. read more

Excellent food, staff and ambience. Attended a 40 person party, attentive to all those in attendance read more

Pizza is on point and service is exceptional. I don't think ive ever had better service at a restaurant before. Will definitely return again. read more

Food and Service were good, but was surprised that I was charged for soft drink refills when the server didn't ask and refilled without telling me there was a $4 charge for each refill. Six people three refills each costing $72 in sugar water. read more

We had a retirement party here for a coworker. It was fantastic! They made is to easy to organize - Christine thought of literally everything. The service was fantastic, their staff was so professional and efficient. The food was delicious. They kept up easily with 35 of us. It all flowed fabulously. I've been here a few times for dinner and have always been impressed but this event just put them over the top. Highly recommend. read more

I visited Luciano's with my work team for a holiday dinner. Therefore, I apologize in advance for the lack of pictures. We went to dinner on a Thursday night. There was a group of six of us. The restaurant was pretty quiet that evening and wasn't packed at all. I was one of the first people in my group to arrive, and they allowed me to be seated while I waited for the rest of the group. Once everyone arrived, we ordered drinks and appetizers. I got to try the shrimp cocktail and calamari. Both were tasty. For my entrée, I got the short rib. It was cooked perfectly. It came with sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts...two of my favorite things. For dessert, I got the cheesecake. It was beautifully presented with raspberries and strawberries on top. Overall, I had a pretty good experience here and would go again. The service was top-notch. read more

The Clams Diablo Were excellent the sauce was great for dipping. Service was spot on hamburgers. read more

Our family hosted a birthday luncheon at the end of April for our mom and everything went as planned. Christine was very helpful with coordinating the meal since we used a packaged plan. I only wished it included the alcohol because that was super pricey. The service was excellent and the main dishes were delicious. Although it was a good idea, we didn't care for the waffles and ice cream for dessert. The waffles were too hard. Fortunately we were allowed to bring in our own birthday cake, so no one went home hungry. The restaurant itself is quite pretty and there is parking a short walk from the restaurant. We all enjoyed the restaurant. read more

Excellent attentive service, above average food, and a beautiful setting in the bar area. Highly recommend

Worst place on rahway!!! waiter / bartender incompetent, bad communication the manager sofia even worst... Ordered a steak MEDIUM came back with a well DONE and instead of replacing it with a medium steak she rather arguing with me ' Costumer"'" If you want to have a bad time go to LUCIANOS.!!! WORST PLACE IN RAHWAY !!! lol funny part they charge me for that steak that was hard as a cardboard read more

Had dinner last night Mia our server was fantastic, and the meal was very good I haven't been their for many years and was glad I went back I would recommend this restaurant to everyone Parking was a challenge as it was so cold and had to park several blocks away Not a deal breaker read more

Came here for a private party. While the party room was beautiful, the service and food was lackluster. The cold antipasto appetizers was the best of the night. You can't really go wrong with cheese, meats, and crackers/breads. The pasta was a bit too al dente. I had the salmon which was just ok. They forgot to season the every course after the antipasto. Maybe if you came on a different night you may have better luck. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

We dine here tonight. It was my first time. The service was prompt and the staff personable. I had the chicken francese and my friend had the pumpkin ravioli. We both enjoyed our food and the sangrias were really good. I had some grappa too. My only suggestion is to make grappa in flavors and spices. We'll definitely go back to Luciano's. read more

Wonderful night out with family. Everything was fresh, hot and delicious. Rahway is a happening place. Loved the Short Ribs. Antipasti (pictured) was chock full of tasty delights. Chicken parmigiana and veal parmigiana were both wonderful and full of flavor. Price is somewhat expensive, but we'll worth it for the excellent service with a smile and the cozy atmosphere. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Antipasto Misto - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

I ve be a patron for many years. Everyone is experiencing tough times through covid. But that's no excuse anymore. I will never go back. Service is the worst and their prices have increased dramatically. Aa a small business owner myself if I'm going to charge high prices I'm going to treat people a lot better. Their staff is untrained their food is spotty. I would not recommend this place to anyone I know. And I don't take the time to write reviews. Mike read more

Excellent food and service. We couldn't have asked for a nicer repass for my mother. Thank you!

The absolute worst service I've ever encountered. We had reservations for 7:45pm. Can't comment on the food quality because we were never served. We decided by 8:25pm to leave as a waiter hadn't even approached us to taker our order. They did however give us water after 20 minutes so there's that. Keep in mind - The restaurant was close to empty. Wish I would of listened to the reviews instead of wasting my time; please don't waste yours. read more

You can tell much about a restaurant by the owners and Luciano's Italian Restaurant has the most caring.  I've been familiar with this establishment since opening 17 years ago and the one thing that remains consistent is great food and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.  Great environment for a date night,  family gathering,  or special occasion with their banquet rooms.  Exquisite decor, truly makes for a most enjoyable and memorable meal. read more

Went in for brunch and the holiday decorations are lovely. However, the waiter seemed to barely listen to my wife and I when we ordered. He came out a second time to confirm my wife's order, which is fine, but the brought my the wrong thing. I'm unsure how "Cheesy Chik Wrap", which is a tortilla with vegetables and chicken, sounds like "Three Cheese Omelette", which is what they brought. I didn't want to be "that guy", so I just ran with it, but it was the saddest omelette I've ever had. $20 for what I assume was two eggs and some cheese. No vegetables, no meat. Very disappointed and will likely go elsewhere next time. read more

No star to be given for this restaurant. We were seated at 6:10 and gave our orders at 6:23pm: ordered Penne Vodka with shrimp and grilled salmon. We waited and waited for exactly one hour. Ray took our orders and probably the manager of the restaurant. We told Rey that we are attending a show and meeting someone at 7:45 and he said that our food will be out soon and waited and waited and no food came out until we decided to leave the restaurant at 7:23. We would not recommend this restaurant at all. read more

Food is still great BUT it happened again. They sat us in the bar because there was a private party going on in the dining room. Not as loud as the one from a few years back but still annoying. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Scallops over a risotto that was deemed to be extremely watery - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

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Came to Luciano's today for Mother's Day expecting normal, good service and food that I have enjoyed in the past. We were shocked to find that they had a special menu in place that was not mentioned while making the reservation. When we asked if we would be able to order off the regular menu they said that this was the only menu they had available for that day. The only option given was to pay ~$80 per person so that each individual would get five courses. This was a little much for us so we asked if we could just order one dish of the menu, but they said that we had to have the five and that we could take it home if we'd like. A little ridiculous in my opinion that there was no alternative option. In fact, they had very few options for some of the courses, with the only soup available being shrimp and corn chowder. What if I had an allergy of some kind? Nothing in place to accommodate. Usually when going out to eat, my family and I spend about an hour, hour and a half to eat on top of the wait for the food which works out well for us leaving us enough time to visit some place after getting food. Today, our reservation was at 3 and we just arrived home at 5:30. This would be understandable if we lived far, but a car ride to Luciano's is 5 minutes from us. Long waits for food were disguised by staff coming over to refill drinks. Overall, I was left very dissatisfied with my visit to Luciano's today and don't appreciate the changes since I last visited. While the food was good, it wasn't worth the experience. It was also very cold in the restaurant, I had goosebumps the entire time. read more

My family asked me to pick a place to eat for my going away dinner so I'm like hey why not here. They had a pre-fixed menu since it was Easter which all the selections they had was really great. Service was great too I have zero complaint. My family paid for my dinner and we left the place. Minutes later I received a call from the restaurant telling me that the tip we gave the sever wasn't enough? Okay it wasn't 20% percent but WE GAVE THE SERVER 15% of the bill! And calls me again to give yo literally go back to provide more tip WHICH MY FAMILY WANTED TO PAY FOR MY BILL. I felt that was very unprofessional to begin with, very greedy, and petty. If they give tip at least they should be grateful that something was giving. But to give a call 2/3 times is bizarre. Got me very livid and I'm disappointed I had to deal with that. read more

I've been here 3 times and always enjoy it. It's a cute spot with a romantic atmosphere. The staff is friendly and they clearly take their jobs seriously which is always a plus. My friend had the margarita pizza and said it was ok but she didn't love it. However, I loved their lamb chop lollipops and the 3 cheese pizza. We also got the chicken parmigiana which was a great portion and very flavorful, leaving us with leftovers for the following day. I see a handful of negative reviews for the wait time and service, but I didn't experience any of that. Each time I've gone here they sat us immediately and served us very quickly. Definitely recommend! read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Three cheese pizza - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

This is a very nice looking restaurant for a date night or to hang out in the lounge for a drink. I ordered their chicken francaise and it tasted okay a little overpriced compared to another Italian restaurant down a few blocks has the same meal cheaper & it's better tasting. The tiramisu was disappointing sorry harsh critic because I love tiramisu. Tiramisu looks cute but not as good tasting it was more of a cake consistency not as moist as traditional tiramisu. Overall I would go here for a cute date fancy date or to enjoy cocktails during happy hour. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Chicken francese - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

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Lack of service. Outdated bar menu. Great bartender but it took forever to get drinks and/or close out. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Fall cocktail menu.. it's almost summer. Love pumpkin but nobody has time for that in mid-May. - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

We arrived at 7:30 for 7:45 reservations and sat at 8:15. We didn't get the waitress to give us the specials and drinks for 30-45 minutes. It is now 9:15 meal has just arrived. Fra Diavalo arrived and it was too Spicey to eat and very little pasta in the dish. Even though i paid extra for gluten free. I reach over to my husband meal and his spaghetti looks like soup. Parking ticket on top of this for $54 -hhmmmm read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Soup pasta - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

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I went here for my cousin's baby shower. Luciano's is a newer restaurant located in Rahway's up and coming downtown area. They offer a valet service, as well as free parking on their gravel lot. Though Luciano's is a restaurant, it's more like someone's HOME, which is a wonderful thing. You are greeted by a hostess/doorman. They offer coat check and you are then ushered to your party. There were three large living/dining rooms on the main floor. The baby shower was in the room towards the left of the front door. It was spacious, cozy, and warm, with a fireplace in the center. It was clean and we had the most attentive servers. For the first course, we had butternut squash soup. (Creamy, nutty, perfect for a cold day) It was followed by a tomato/mozzarella salad, orrecchiette pasta with spinach, and my entree selection of Eggplant Parmigiana. Yum, yum, and yum! Everything was spaced out nicely and super delicious. The portions sizes were perfect and I didn't feel overwhelmed with too much food. My belly was full and happy. I really enjoyed my lunch here. I think it's a great place for a large or small family dinner, to celebrate being family or for a special occasion. I will definitely be back in the future for date night or family dinner night. read more

Luciano's Ristorante & Lounge - Butternut squash soup, tomato and mozzarella, ear shaped pasta with spinach, and eggplant parmigiana. - Italian Near Me - Rahway, New Jersey

Date night was a success! I really enjoyed this place! The music was soothing, we sat near the fireplace which was relaxing! and set the tone for the evening. We both enjoyed our meals very much, I had the chicken francese which I'm going to recommend as well as the salad with pears and pecans... its a must try! And most importantly we felt safe while eating out. read more

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My wife made a reservation at this place and the food was good and a bit overpriced only because the service was horrible. The place was not crowded at all, 3 tables only. There were over 6 waiters/ staff and our waiter was constantly missing. They never served us more water and waited for ever to get the check. What's even amazing is that one of the waiters came over to clean table when I was signing the check. Horrible service would never come back. read more

Let me start off by saying is that they are clearly understaffed and the staff was very pleasant. The wait time for a drink at the bar, water at the table, a basket of bread or even ordering dinner was ridiculous. Our entire meal took almost 4 hours to get us out the door. The poor solo bartender also had to act as the waiter. We were seated at least an hour before our order was even taken. However when we finally got the food it was delicious. The short ribs were amazing and the lamb chops with mushroom risotto were incredible. The grilled octopus appetizer, although tasty was lukewarm. Oysters were good, a bit expensive but the accoutrements were delicious. Two out of the four of us had been there before and they previously RAVED about it. We really just think it was a staffing issue. Would definitely go back once things return more to normal. read more

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