"This “sleek” yet “comfortable” North End Northern Italian is just the place for an “upscale night out” with a “wonderful”, “not-your-standard-red-sauce” menu, “exceptional service” and a “prime” Hanover Street location (the “front windows are great for people-watching”); it’s “noisy upstairs, more romantic downstairs”, but wherever you wind up, it’s fairly “pricey.”" - Zagat.com

"Like many eateries along the North End’s celebrated Hanover Street, Lucca lures tourists with a hinged wall of windows for al fresco people-watching. Unlike many of its neighbors, however, it bids the foodies among them to return by doing the upscale, contemporary Italian thing---and doing it with style. From the white (not red-and-white-checked) tablecloths to the stained-glass inlays to the full bar dispensing wicked cocktails (a rarity in the neighborhood), Lucca---named for a medieval Tuscan town---sets a sophisticated tone for the evening (extending into the wee hours, yet another unusual bonus) that its kitchen matches. The signature rigatoni alla cinghiale, whose sauce hits unexpected sour notes, is a must-try; broth-bathed mussels surprise with accents of chorizo and anise (thanks to both fennel and sambuca); grilled meats toe the Tuscan line respectfully. Of course, you’re paying for the extra savvy; if it’s cheap and homey you want, walk on by." - Gayot.com