Bruce first visited Luciano forty years ago so he was excited to revisit when I mentioned that I fancied going there for dinner after seeing their posts on Instagram. Technically when he was last there it was a nightclub called Brasingamen’s where footballers and wannabe WAGs hung out, and not a beautiful restaurant run by popular chef Gino D’Acampo, but he was excited nonetheless. If you know Alderley Edge at all you know exactly where Luciano now sits, on the main road through the village, you can’t really miss it!
Gino D’Acampo took over the space and opened his newest restaurant called Luciano just over a year ago, and because we hadn’t eaten enough in between Christmas and New Year we thought it would the perfect place to have dinner during our 72 hours in Cheshire.
We booked on OpenTable and arrived a few minutes ahead of our reservation time. A note if you are driving. There is limited parking at the front of the restaurant, and down the side is all double yellow lines so don’t be tempted to park there! The restaurant did advise us that they have additional parking spaces near the shipping container to the left of the restaurant. You pull onto the garage forecourt and through a small gap in the fence on to what looks like scrub land and can park there. Failing that there is a car park down the road opposite the restaurant.
We were greeted with big smiles and asked if our coats could be checked into the cloakroom, and if we would like a drink at the bar or wanted to head straight to our table. The restaurant was bright and airy and whilst busy it wasn’t loud or at all as obnoxious as some busy restaurants weve been in recently. Outside is a conservatory area, with a bar and heaters which mean it can be used all year round, but we were shown to a table inside which was perfect.
Drinks were delivered with smiles promptly and our waiter knew exactly the one I wanted when I mentioned the ingredients of the one I had spotted on the website but had forgotten the name of it. Oh and a word to the wise, you absolutely must try the Limone Fresco above, it was delicious, served with lots of ice. It will be perfect in the summer.
The service continued to be amazing, nothing was too much trouble and it was attentive without being overbearing. The menu is lovely with some really interesting dishes, and it was great to see the children’s menu went beyond a boring spaghetti bolognese or pizza. There is also a set menu for £21 that is great value for money.
My mum in law chose the salmon and avocado tartare with dill and capers which was £16. And enormous. It was stunning. I had king prawns on bruschetta (£13) and wanted the recipe for the chilli mayonnaise it came with.
Our main courses were equally fabulous, with mum in law having chicken alla Luciano, Bruce the pizza with Calabrian salami and I had the veal Milanese which was the best I have ever had (and trust me, I have had it a lot as it is my go to when it appears on a menu). Main courses range from £16 up to £70 for an 800g T Bone, most though are closer to the £20 to £25 point.
We were stuffed by this point but this being the season of eating and drinking more than is entirely necessary so we decided to take one for the team and try the desserts too. Well you know how seriously I like to take my reviews!
I had spotted the Nutella pizza frittata with caramelised banana and toasted hazelnuts on the menu and just couldn’t resist. And they were amazing. I definitely recommend you leave space for these if you can. Oh and the Irish cream pannacotta.
And the Dolce Bourbon
In fact, don’t eat for a week, go starving hungry and eat the entire menu.
I promise you wont be disappointed.