Middle Aged and Living Well

I discovered Lucca Cafe via an article in the OC Register two years ago and checked their web site and found their wine list (which is reasonably priced) matched  many of my own wines that I store at home.  Even though its a small drive for us, my wife and I find ourselves eating there regularly.  The rotating seasonal menu, the small tapas style plates and their exquisite service makes us feel so comfortable.  They have both interior seating near a fireplace and patio dining in a semi-enclosed patio.  We always choose the patio.  Even though it overlooks the parking lot, we always find it more relaxing.

For dinner,  I suggest keeping your party to 4 or under.  Their tapas style dinner lends itself to a more intimate relaxing style dinner and you lose that with more than four people.  With just my wife and I, we always start with a 3 cheese platter, expertly picked by our waiter.  We will then usually share 3 plates, usually picked based on the bottle of wine we choose to drink that night.  We will usually share a  first course followed by two plates as our entree; always sharing.  If there are four of us, the cheese platter gets 5 cheeses and then two starter plates and 3 entree plates.

One thing is for certain, by limiting the number of plates, we always save room for dessert.  These ever changing jewels are worth the visit alone.   Paired with a great dessert wine, these fine dishes finish off a wonderful meal with style and a feeling of completeness.  The desserts have gotten bigger recently, so sharing one with two or more is perfect.

So sit on the patio and enjoy a lovely meal and a bottle of wine with your loved one or intimate friends and I ensure you will have a wonderful relaxing evening.  Many times after dining out, I walk away from a restaurant bloated and filled with anxiety after dealing with noise, parking and traffic.  Every time after eating at Lucca, my wife walk away very content, relaxed and exclaiming that we should eat here more often.

Thanks to Elliot and Cathy for creating a great spot.

6507 Quail Hill Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92603

(949) 725-1773

www.luccacafe.net