Iconic Brooklyn pizzeria known for its legendary pizza and calzones, but be prepared for a significant wait.
This Brooklyn pizzeria is a highly sought-after destination, consistently drawing crowds with its famed Italian-American pizza and calzones. Patrons rave about the exceptional quality of the pizza, with many proclaiming it the best they've ever tasted. While the food earns widespread acclaim, the experience is tempered by notoriously long wait times due to its walk-in, no-reservations policy. Despite the queues, many consider the exceptional pizza and the restaurant's atmosphere well worth the effort.
The restaurant is acclaimed for its pizza, with many diners considering it among the best in NYC. Specific praise is given to the sauce and the quality of ingredients. The calzone is also frequently recommended as a standout dish. While most reviews are glowing, a minority find the pizza to be overrated or are critical of aspects like the crust or basil preparation.
"The pizza is universally praised, with many calling it the best in NYC. The calzone is also highly recommended by several patrons."
Customers generally have a very positive sentiment towards the food, particularly the pizza, often describing it as the best they've ever had. However, the notoriously long wait times and the restaurant's no-reservations policy are significant drawbacks for many.
Important Note
The restaurant does not accept reservations and operates on a walk-in basis only, often resulting in very long wait times. Some patrons have also expressed concerns about the preparation of certain ingredients, like basil, and the pizza's crust ratio.
"The commenter has eaten at Lucali three times and finds Mondays generally easier for getting a table. They suggest arriving around 2:30-3:00 PM to secure a desired time. The wait time is also influenced by weather conditions; for example, there was no line during a heatwave."
Neutral"When asked what reservation they would volunteer for, the user identified Lucali."
Neutral"This user believes that Lucali is not worth the wait."
Negative"The user shared their personal experience of waiting from 3 PM to 6:15 PM for takeout, but suggested that lines might be shorter due to the heat."
Neutral"The user believes it is likely possible to get takeout around 5 PM if arriving just before 4 PM on a weekday."
Neutral"Lucali's pizza can be ordered over the phone for pickup."
Positive"Lucali is mentioned as a restaurant with no corkage fee, and they allow patrons to bring their own stemware as they do not provide any."
Positive"The commenter lists Lucali among several places, noting that not all are bad but some are overhyped."
Neutral"Includes Lucali on a categorized list of restaurants."
Positive"Suggests losing Lucali from the list of restaurants."
Negative"KazaamFan agrees that visiting popular restaurants during off-hours is a smart strategy to avoid crowds, as it aligns with people's work and family schedules."
Neutral"eh183205, a local who loves Lucali, notes that AC must be a new addition as last year there was only a fan, and the oven makes it very hot; they opt for takeout in the summer, which is convenient for residents."
Positive"resonaut advises that calling for takeaway is a viable option to get food from Lucali without having to wait in line."
Positive"Then_Locksmith_2029 uses hyperbole to describe the extreme heat, explaining why people might avoid waiting in line for popular places like Lucali."
Neutral"Aware-Surprise-8047 points out that the original poster claimed Lucali had air conditioning inside, which contradicts other comments about its absence or inefficiency."
Neutral"eh183205 states that Lucali has "zero" air conditioning and is "insanely hot" inside."
Negative"Holiday_Step2765 clarifies their earlier statement about 'getting a slice' at Lucali, explaining they meant eating pizza by the piece, and reiterates that pizza is generally not worth the extreme heat for most people."
Neutral"kitcatxyz expresses curiosity about Lucali's air conditioning situation, inquiring if it is effective given the hot weather."
Neutral"Low_Name_1510 explains that most people would not want to wait in line for hours for hot pizza on a 100-degree day, which accounts for the shorter lines at Lucali."
Neutral"pony_trekker asks for clarification on "Baby Luc's" and its relationship to the main Lucali restaurant."
Neutral
