Casa Luca - casual, relaxed dining

After dining at Fiola on Christmas Eve I was curious to see what the other Fabio Trabucchi family of restaurants were like. I was attending an evening lecture at the National Museum of Women in the Arts and decided to try Casa Luca for dinner after the event.

Casa Luca is housed in the former Againn space. When Againn was open I liked the space, but the staff was less than friendly. I visited once with a pal for Happy Hour and didn't return. I secretly hoped that the frosty behavior had not passed on to the Casa Luca staff.

The moment I walked in the door I was greeted by a young woman who asked me where I would like to sit - bar or at a table. It was a biting cold winter night and I asked to sit in a warm cozy spot. She  said she had a place and mind and asked me to follow her. She took my coat and hung it up for me  on a standing coat rack near the entrance to the restaurant.

I tried the caprese salad, gnocchi with duck ragu (half portion), and ciambellone di Nonna Palmina for dessert. The carpese salad was colorful (sundried tomato, pesto, buratta and lettuce leaves). The salad was paired with a lovely white wine recommended by the wine manager.

The half portion of flavorful gnocchi was just the right size for me. It featured sizable pieces of tender duck and mushrooms.The gnocchi was paired with a  lovely Sangiovese.

gnocchi with duck ragu

The ciambelone was a lovely way to end the meal - the warm, hazelnut coffee cake, caramel gelato, and the vin cotto pairing were a great combination.

ciambellone di Nonna Palmina 

The staff is friendly, attentive and helpful. The bathroom was bright, and clean. The vibe at Casa Luca is more casual and not as intense as sister restaurant Fiola. While the price point of dishes is lower at Casa Luca, both restaurants serve flavor-rich dishes.

Casa Luca is definitely family friendly.

The closest metro stop is Metro Center. Valet parking is available. Metered on street parking is available. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.

Now that the weather is warming I would like to see if Casa Luca offers sidewalk dining.

Be well,
Technicolor girl