Lackluster Lucia’s Italian (but at least the food was good!)

Italian food.  It is one of my favorite things to eat.  And, with the recent gluten-free diet, something I don’t get to enjoy out that often.  On a recent visit to Birmingham, Alabama to visit my family…I asked my dad to pick a place to eat out, since we always eat at The Depot (which, we had for lunch that day, mind you!) and Joe’s Italian (reviewed earlier in this blog!).  My dad, being a connoisseur of Italian food as well, chose Lucia’s Italian in Helena, Alabama.  As I was on vacation, I let the gluten-free thing slide a little because sometimes good food is worth it.  And my dad really, really, really wanted to try this place out.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were seated at a table and awaited the arrival of our waiter.  He arrived a short time later to take drink orders and allow us to flip through our menus.  The first thing I noticed while perusing the menu was that many of the items had been blacked out.  Sad, as the restaurant hadn’t been open that long.  And one item I really wanted to have…the Manicotti (stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach and topped with sauce), was one of the ones that was now blacked out.  I was surprised, being so new, seeing so many items already taken from the menu.  After much debate, I settled on the Cheese Tortellini alla Panna, cheese tortellini in a garlic cream sauce.  With it I got a cup of the tomato basil soup.

Our drinks arrived,  and so did the baskets of bread.  They were set out and then our waiter disappeared, without pouring the oil for dipping.  Taking matters into my own hands, I began to do it…and that was when the manager came over to assist.  She explained that they were short-handed that day and apologized.  We also pointed out that my four-year-old nephew, who was to get apple juice, didn’t receive his drink yet.  We were told they were out of juice.  So, my sister asked about getting him milk instead, but was informed they were out of that as well.  So…he ended up with water, and voiced his dissatisfaction about not having juice like promised.  I mean, he’s four.  He lives for his juice.  And after we began receiving soups and salads, my sister pointed out he still didn’t have his water.  The waiter finally went to get it.

I hadn’t been able to share in the bread, but everyone who did eat it (that would have been everyone else at the table) loved it.  Raved about it.  Ate more than they probably should have before receiving their food, but didn’t seem to care.  I have to admit, the bread did look good.  So, I was extremely excited when my tomato basil soup arrived.  One bite and I was in heaven.  Definitely worth the wait.  It tasted fresh.  It was warm without being too hot to eat.  And the flavor was an explosion of tomato and herbs, perfectly blended, perfectly made.  Perfect.  It tasted like a marinara sauce.  Soup love.  If this was a taste of what was to come with the entree, well…the slow service and the very limited menu might be worth it.

With the soup polished off, I was already anticipating the main dish.  When it arrived, I could already tell that it was going to be good.  The portion size was just right, although knowing I was having dessert, I didn’t polish it off.  But the tortellini was cooked to absolute perfection.  It didn’t fall apart when I cut into it.  The creamy sauce that it was in was was seasoned just right.  It wasn’t heavy, like most cream sauces are.  It was very light and complimented the pasta, rather than overwhelm it.  It was, in a word, perfect.  Deliciously perfect.

As is my biggest downfall when it comes to these restaurants, the dessert case called our names.  And we all got something different to share and eat.  My roommate got her usual, a cannoli, which she enjoyed (but she said it still hasn’t topped Adrienne’s in Jeffersonville, Indiana).  My sister and her husband split the Neapolitan cake, a layered cake of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, iced in chocolate.  They liked it well enough, but said the chocolate part was a bit dry.  I sampled a bit of it…and agreed.  But the strawberry cake was heaven.  Which is what my little four-year-old nephew got.  Strawberry cake.  A gigantic slice, which he nibbled off of and we packed the rest away for another time.  The strawberry cake was heads and tales above everything else.  My dad got a giant slice (seriously, these are meant to share…they are practically an entire cake all their own) of the  chocolate cake.  My mom and I split a bigger-than-my-head tiramisu.

The tiramisu was delicious.  Tasting of the right amount of cocoa, coffee, liquor and mascarpone…it was light, despite it’s intimidating size.  Between the two of us, my mom and I polished it off without reducing ourselves to licking the plate.  It was good.  As was the other desserts I snitched tastes of here and there.

We walked out of Lucia’s satisfied with the food, at least.  The service left a little to be desired.  And the menu…well, I hope the expand on it because the food is amazing.  And the menu should reflect that.  And if an item is removed, don’t just mark it out with a marker.  It’s a bit of a put-off for a first-time diner, especially when the restaurant is so new to begin with.

But, if you do like delicious Italian food and happen to be in the Helena, Alabama area…Lucia’s food is worth it.  Perhaps the staff will be in better order and their stock in full supply.  Go for the food and you won’t be disappointed.