Lucca Cafe Quail Hill Village Center THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lucca Cafe

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lucca Cafe Awards

Fresh, locally grown ingredients and a charming wine list are found at this friendly bistro.
Openings: Lunch & Dinner daily, Brunch Sat.-Sun.
THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lucca Cafe, Irvine, CA


THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Lucca Cafe Restaurant Review:


Owner Cathy Pavlos and her husband Elliott run this European-style bistro with panache. Euro-chic décor is classic yet modern, and works well for Shady Canyon residents and others who want to enjoy a casual meal or a glass of vino and a snack at the wine bar. Cathy’s contemporary menu features mostly locally grown, organic, seasonal ingredients. She is known for composing sumptuous cheese and charcuterie plates from the in-house deli, featuring artisanal food products from California, the East Coast and Europe. Entrées are full of bold flavors, such as honey-glazed Loch Duart salmon, sweet pea pesto risotto, Tuscan chicken and creamy tomato served with pappardelle, and a tender London sirloin with porcini mushroom rub. Wines from an eclectic 30-label list are personally selected by Elliott and are meant for pairing. All the selections are offered three ways: as a two-and-a-half-ounce taste, a six-ounce glass or by the bottle. Desserts include a “killer” brownie à la mode with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce, or a seasonal fruit galette. Chef Cathy also offers one of OC’s only fresh antipasto bars for dinner, available Wednesday through Sunday, as well as a free-flowing Champagne buffet brunch on weekends.