Lucia Restaurant - Barre, VT

[Morganna]

This restaurant just opened in the old location of Sean and Nora's, on Main Street in Barre. It's about half a block away from Ed's Barrrbq, on that same side of the road, and about a block away from El Sol. :)

I got take out from there last night, and it was good. My husband had the meat lasagne (beef and sausage, 10.95), and I had fettucine carbonara ($12.95). My carbonara was creamy and rich, and tasted good. I couldn't tell if the pasta was actually fresh or from dried. My husband said this lasagne was fine. It wasn't outstanding. The carbonara was a larger portion than the lasagne, which was good.

The interior looks comfortable, and like a nice place to go for dinner. I look forward to eating in at some point. The staff I dealt with were universally polite and pleasant. Just to be clear (because of what's about to come next ;D) I liked this place, and I plan on going back. I'm also hoping they start doing some sort of Wednesday night trivia thing so I can go there once a month for some fun, but that's a whole other post. :)

I had one quibble. I picked up a take-out menu a few days before, and on the take-out menu it says that pasta dishes and entrees come with Red Hen bread and a petite house salad. When I called to place the order, I was informed that they don't give the salad on take out orders (but they do give the bread).

Ok, so maybe I'm being petty. Probably we're talking about, what, a buck work of salad that they're not giving me (I had actually been looking forward to a bit of salad but that's not the point)? It's the principle of the thing that sorta irks me. I'm paying the same amount for my meal (I checked the inside menu and confirmed it), and I'm not costing them the time paid to a waitress to wait on me, the space used on the table, and the expense of washing up dishes and glasses and silverware by not eating in. And they're giving me less product than I'd get if I ate in.

I did mention this to the person who took my order, and she said she pointed it out to the owner after my call. I also brought in the menu and showed her where it says that it comes with salad, but there's nothing that says take-out orders are different. No discount was offered and I got the impression if I'd pressed I'd have looked really petty. :)

Ok, so maybe they don't want to give up more take out containers to put salad in because you can't put it in the same container as the entree. Maybe those containers cost way more than washing dishes, waiting on me, and the space I take up. I dunno, I'm not a restaurant owner. Like I said, it's just a minor sort of thing that makes me feel a little petty for being irked by it, but makes me think the owners are a little petty for doing it in the first place. I think if it were explained to me in terms I could understand why the owners chose to do things that way, it has a chance of making me feel a little less irked about it, but it'd have to be a really good explanation for why you're charging me the same but not giving me the same value for my dollar. :) Especially when I'm paying $12.95 for a -pasta- meal.

[Delhiwala]

if you go back, please report on how much you enjoy the food. Barre needs more good restuarants, Lets hope that this place works out.
By the way, do they serve wine?

[Morganna]

They have a full service bar, and yes, they have wine. I liked the food just fine, and the service was great! I can tell you right now it's a good option in the Barre area. :) I'm willing to bet their Sunday Brunch is nice, too. :)

Gooo! Tell us what YOU think! :) I talk too much as it is. ;D

[TonyO]

Based on the fact that they informed you about the "no salad" policy when you called, I would say it was an oversight when the menus were printed. The prices of the meal seem very reasonable and adding a salad for a few bucks may be an option. I can't comment as to their reasoning behind including a salad "in house" but not as takeout. Maybe it is a "thank you" for patrons eating at the restaurant and I'm sure they cover the cost in the form of beverage sales. I will say this, $10.95 for meat lasagna with a salad and quality bread is a BARGAIN that all too many places are charging $17.95 for.

[Morganna]

Well, I certainly trust your evaluation of this more than my own. :) I'm notoriously cheap and $17.95 for a single entree is something we wouldn't pay for on a regular basis. ;D

Thanks for putting this into some perspective for me. :) The whole beverage issue isn't one that had occurred to me but it makes total sense. :)

[AFoodee]

I went here Saturday for lunch. I had pasta primavera - the waitress asked "red sauce or white" I replied "white." The veggies were cut in hunks, chunks, and the carrots put through a woodplaner I think. The sauce - there was no sauce. It was a puddle of broth or something. There was no flavor. It was luke warm and no matter how much salt, pepper and shaker cheese I put on it - it all disappeared into that puddle of whatever it was ? The others in my party said their dishes were barely warm. The waitress didn't bring any bread until we were half way through the entree. We did have stuffed mushroom appetizer. Fair - white button mushrooms w/bread crumb stuffing, five dinky ones for 3 people - should be fine for one. The tea ordered - we got a saucer of hot water placed in front of us - the water barely hot. The waitress was out of sorts and I think it was her first job. For three people / $46 bill - not likley to return here for a long while.

[Morganna]

Please take the time to let the owners know about this experience if you can. I get the feeling they -want- to be responsive.

[mjlvtlady]

February 25
Atmosphere, not sure what is going on with the entrance, but some ugly fabric hanging on brass poles, you can see the unfinished side from the dining room. They have the gold faux venetian finish on the walls, brown painted chair rail and "lady and the tramp" table clothes. The fireplace is original old tired red brick.

Service, our service was poor at best. My son's gf order soup and salad for supper, my son and I ordered salads and entree's - his a veggie lasagna. She brings the soup to the gf and brings our salads at least 5 mins later. The waitress brings the entrees out and looks at my son and goes "oh, you had the veggie lasagna didn't you. So at least 8 mins later out comes his entree, after we were just about finished. No appologies, no discount, just a joking "well how was everything once it got here"

Food: The food was good and fresh, but would rather go to Sarducci's.

[Morganna]

Wow, sorry to hear that about the service. I've always liked the service at Sarducci's, I hope Lucia's gets a clue soon. :) Thanks for reporting! I love hearing other folks' thoughts and experiences on local places.

[Merp]

We went for the first time last night, with good wishes for the place, as there are so few restaurants in the area. We made a reservation for 2 at 7. Clearly the flow chart has not been worked out, as we were told that the people at "our" table hadn't left yet. We were seated around 7:30 and people who had later reservations were seated before us. The hostess was frantic, maybe not enough people on the floor? No apology was made until we were being led to our table. Things happen sometimes, but then there needs to be gracious communication, and even an offer of a glass of wine, or something which would cost them little and leave a different memory. Then it was another 15 minutes before anyone took our order. The waitress took orders at the tables seated after us, but didn't see us. The hostess finally noticed and sent someone our way. It all felt rather hapless. The salads were good, a good size, fresh, and the dressings were good. The entrees are way, way overpriced! Chicken dishes were all around $26! This is, if you include the salad, equivalent to the Black Door bistro, which is a far more elegant experience, and much more sophisticated food, and about $10 more than Sarducci's where the service is reliable and the food very much at the same level if not better. The stuffed mushrooms were okay, but still close to raw, with a bland bread stuffing, sitting in a nice lemony broth, but since they were barely cooked the broth hadn't infused the mushrooms at all. The appetizer special, eggplant rollitini, was fine, nicely seasoned, but overcooked. I really hope that they work out some of the glitches, because it would be great for a place in Barre to succeed, but at those prices and that level of cuisine I wouldn't recommend it at this point.

[Morganna]

I'm getting sorely tempted to print up all these reviews and send them to the owners at the restaurant. I just keep feeling like if they knew... they might do something.

I, too, really want them to succeed. We finally have some decent dining options in Barre (I know Sean and Noras was popular, but I never much liked it), I'd like them to continue, and the only way to do that is for them to have regular customers!

[Chefmetal]

I have been to Lucia's three times in the past 3 weeks or so, and for the most part have enjoyed myself, but as it goes sometimes the third time was the charm, our server was akward at best and bumbling at her worst, the apps and entrees were great as usuial. I have no problems or complaints with the savory dishes I have tried .... its the desserts that need work! I ordered the chocolate mousse and my dad and sis had the creme brulle, our deserts arrived and I dug right into my mousse and immedeately noticed that texture was not what I was expecting, instead of smooth choco flavor I was chewing on bits of coagulated egg. so I ask hows the brulle? eh? its ok was the reply. I inspected the brulle which had clearly been over cooked and was sent out anyway .... I am a chef and not a reviewer and I think this place has a chance to be really great, but the chef needs to get on his peoples butts to produce quality desserts! its the final impression of the resturant, the dessert needs to be on the same level as the rest of your food.

[toulis]

I have been to Lucia's a few times. I was really excited to see the Faths open a restaurant in central Vermont. My husband and I have been big fans of Toscano for years. I have enjoyed my meals at Lucias and found the price fair. What I love most about the Faths restaurant is that I always see at least one of the family members and I feel that they care a lot about their food and business. A true family business. The food is always good.
I for one hope they make it in Barre. I know I will be back.