Review Lucio's Pizzeria - Johannesburg

What a gem! The food is outstanding, atmosphere can't be beaten and a lovely all round experience. Can recommend the blue cheese ravioli, a little pricey bit worth every penny

Awesome awesome pizza, probably the best pizza that we’ve had this side of the world. Takeaway is not bad, but would rather suggest sitting down and have a meal in the restaurant self. Really nice atmosphere, can get quite busy in the evenings.

Honestly such a great pizza restaurant with so much character! The walls are decorated with trinkets from all over the world. The food was morish and yummy and the cocktails affordable! Highly recommend

I have frequented Lucios regularly over the last 23 yrs and I have never been disappointed. From the delicious food to the service, it's always been an excellent experience. It's a lovely quaint family run Italian restaurant, originally started by the late Claudio, and now run by his wife. I haven't been back in a long time, but I have to say, they haven't lost their touch. Claudio would be proud.

The simplest way to explain how good this restaurant is, is to point out that they have been operating for over 30 years and remains a firm family favourite. It would be a difficult challenge to find better pizza in Johannesburg. The service is friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere is delightful. To top it all off, they pizza prices are actually lower than many other pizza places!

I have moved away from the area for a few years now had to go here when we were in the area since it was a favorite when I stayed nearby. I am happy to say that we were not disappointed the food was amazing, i got a pizza and my girlfriend got the basil pesto pasta and we loved it. We ordered some drinks too and they were made very good. Service was a delight, waitress and hostess were very friendly. Pricing is good i think for what we had. Our total was R730, we had a starter to share , two main meals , and collectively 4 drinks and a desert each.

Had a lovely dinner at Lucios! The food is always delicious and the staff are very helpful and friendly. They have a myriad of choices for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike and you can't go wrong with their crème brûlée. Will be back soon. 😊

Lucios Pizzeria is one of the few Italian places around that seem to be sticking to their guns in serving good Italian food. Management was very attentive when we raised a mistake with one of our dishes and was sure to bring out the replacement personally. The restaurant is laid out well with typical Italian restaurant decor all over. Temperatures were a little uncomfortable even though we were seated directly in front of a fan. We were in the middle of a heatwave, but ventilation is something that could be looked into to improve the overall experience regardless.

This used to be our family go to because they offer really good vegan pizzas on their menu, catering to our whole family. They have not had vegan cheese in stock on our last few visits in spite of having called to check, so if that's what you're after you may be left disappointed. Otherwise the rest of the menu looks great but not exactly vegan friendly.

As always, Lucios was incredible. One of my favourite restaurants in JHB. Best pizza, amazing pasta, great atmosphere and wonderful staff. Will never say no to Lucios!

Seriously, the best pizza and pasta in town. A classic pizzeria great for romantic dinners or family dining. Also caters to vegans. 😻 Thank you ❤️

I am not a big pizza fan, but this pizza is some of the best. I have been going there since 1996. Still fantastic

Really a hidden gem, they serve some of the best traditional Italian dishes in the country. From authentic pasta dishes, unique pizza styles and fresh seafood. Highly recommend.

My fiance raved about this place, saying it had been her favourite pizza place before she moved to Cape Town. 9 years and a lockdown later and we went back. You could tell by the sparkle in her eyes that it was just as good as ever before. Great old school experience. Highly recommended.

If i could give 10 stars for EVERYTHING I would!!!! Stunning, delicious, amazeballs food! And great service once again from all the ladies, but tonight Gugu especially!!!! We decided to have a treat tonight as a family and what an treat it was!!!!!! Thank you Lucios family, from mine to yours. 💙💙😍😍😁😁

This is our date night go-to. The mushroom toast starter is out of this world. And we always share a pizza and pasta. Hubby loves the creme brulee although I always find it a bit underwhelming as it is usually cold in the middle. Overall tasty great Italian food and good service.

Lucios <br/><br/><br/>This was my second visit and I’m so disappointed compared to the first time. <br/>The staff + service received was all over the place and inconsistent. After waiting for 50 minutes , I got a glass of water that I asked for when placing my order earlier. <br/><br/><br/>The food still tasted good overall but the calzone / pizza base was absolutely soggy.

Awesome pizza and pasta! The food is always good and the service is excellent. I especially enjoyed their fettuccine pasta. The Lucious special pizza is a must.

Awesome experience for us as first timers. Exactly what we expected from a Italian owned restaurant! Great family vibe and friendliness in the atmosphere..

Blast from the past. Took my daughters for a late Sunday lunch. I remember the pizza's being a lot better than we had that day. My kids enjoyed it.

We’re living in Johannesburg for only three months and so happy that we discovered this place at the start of our stay. It was all about the pizza at our table so I can’t comment on anything else but the pizza was lovely. <br/>If you like cheesy deep dish deliciousness, then this is for you. Don’t come here if you like thin crust though. The Mexicana was yum and also the bacon and avo. <br/>Hats off if you can finish a whole pizza by yourself!<br/><br/>PS: The vibe is also great. Very chilled with good service. Nothing fancy, just enjoyable.

Ordered over Mr Delivery tonight. A simple cheese and garlic foccacia and a Roquefort salad. The salad was an extremely small portion drenched in sauce, for R89 and the foccacia was tough and chewy. We used to frequent them at least twice a month. But the quality of food seems to get worse and worse.

I ordered the salsa d’angnello gnocchi, which was nice, although the gnocchi was a bit stodgy and the pasta sauce needed salt. It was however tasty.<br/><br/>For dessert I got the chocolate fondant / volcano cake, which was nice.<br/><br/>All round I had a good experience at this restaurant and enjoyed my food but wouldn’t particularly rush back. <br/><br/>

We had wonderful time at Lucio’s, A real change from the usual run-of-the-mill ones. Staff and services was top-notch. Food was excellent as usual.

My favorite time of the week where I do not have to cook,and what better way to order from our favorite restaurant!!! Being a regular customer and getting great food and excellent service each and every time I would expect nothing less for tonight. Super excited we ordered on Uber eats the Lucios special Pizza with extra spinach. I literally couldn't wait until the pizza arrived which was not what we expected. Very disappointed I asked my husband to phone an report this. Reluctantly he did, and my motivation was this.-if you unhappy with service you must always let the business know. There are many ways to do it, but as we are civil people we can deal with matters with the necessary control when being disappointed and my husband did exactly that. Now you would expect as we sometimes get use to just leave things like this(bad service) and walk away and never make use of a service again feeling disappointed, after our call the managers phoned us back and apologized sincerely and asked us to allow them to make up for it. 10 min later one of the waiters personally delivers exactly what we ordered and for the inconvenience an lovely bottle of wine! No if this is not exceptional customer service I don't know what is! They could have chosen to ignore as do many other businesses do, but they didn't because their customers matter. I thank you for this example and I will go back to you everytime for a guaranteed wonderful customer and cuisine experience! Thank you Jonathan and David!!!

I love the decor at this restaurant, you feel very at home and relaxed , the food is tasty and the service is friendly and good . Very nice place to take the the family

Fantastic Family owned restaurant, seeing that they have been in business for 30 years (and not part of a franchise) really paints the picture of hoe passionate the staff and owners are about food, my wife and I went there for the first time on Monday evening after hearing only good things, food and the ambience where fantastic, and it really felt like we stepped into a little Italian Villa, we had the mozzarella focahia as starter and afterwards she had a Carbonara pasta and I settled on a Beef Lasagna, food was amazing and in my personal opinion one of the best lasagna I've ever had, service was outstanding and the waiters really made us feel special, will definitely be back and recommend them to anyone looking for a great Italian dining experience.

I don't know why I have taken so long to review Lucio's. Simply put it is one of my favourite restaurants. <br/>I have only been to sit and eat there twice as I usually just get my Lucio's fix via Ubereats. From both experiences I can say the following:<br/>*Ambience: Very nice and cozy. The decor is very rustic and homely<br/>*Service: The waiters are so friendly and on point<br/>*Food: I have only had the pizza and it's the bomb. I have eyed the pastas and they look amazing. Everytime I get Lucio's I tell myself order something else but I honestly cannot get away from their pizza. It reminds me of how Pizza Hut is in Portugal ( Not a huge fan of the South African Pizza Hut). Deep dish, crispy and delicious. A little tip for those ordering the pizza to go, as soon as you can open the box and leave it open until the pizza is cold, that way you avoid the dreaded soggy bottom.

Looking for a place to eat on a saturday, we came across Lucio's. I have driven past it many a time only to wonder how is this place. <br/><br/>Food: The food was great. We had a focaccia with feta and rosemary for starters which was different due to the 'sour dough' type of base. Nonetheless the taste was delicious. For mains we had the del greco pizza, and vegetariana pizza. We also tried the panzerotti with spinach and ricotta. Both these dishes we on point too. <br/><br/>Ambience: The restaurant is small from the outside yet decently sized in the inside. It has good atmosphere and that authentic vibe. <br/><br/>Service: The waiter was always with us. Asking if we okay and other waiters also pitched in when they saw they could assist. Good service. <br/><br/>Price: A tad pricey but what isnt these days. For the quality. Its worth it.

Really a favourite, down-to-earth Italian restaurant with a lovely, slightly bohemian atmosphere and delicious food at completely competitive prices. The spaghetti with pesto is my favourite dish - the inclusion of more than the usual amount of pine-nuts makes it almost creamy. Delicious depth of flavour. Just be warned - you might need additional salt, food is seasoned with a light hand. A "sit-back, have a glass of sangria and enjoy" restaurant!

A lovely pizza joint with warm, friendly and professional service. The food is delicious, and they handle large tables well. Definitely a place to try out and go back to!

Calzone to die for! Best in Jozi. I'll drive the 30km to eat the Mexican Calzone any day of the week. Very homey feel, great atmosphere. Awesome service. Highly recommend.

Like stepping into a coastal restaurant on the Amalfi coast (except there is no ocean view just Beyers Nausea). Had the ravioli and wished that the portion was triple the size they were so yummy. The staff were a bit grumpy but hey, who wants to work on a cold Sunday afternoon. Good homely food and if I lived in the area I would live in Lucios pizzeria.

Lucios ! Honestly not sure how they got their average rating ! To put it crudely the food is tasteless ! Apparent lack of salt in pretty much every dish , From the garlic focaccia to the pizzas including the chicken cannelloni. All of these dishes failed miserably to impress . For me a classic good pizza would be a clay oven pizza with a lovely thin crispy base. This on the other hand was not only chewy but neither thin nor thick base. Some of the pizza base was even soggy ! Extremely disappointed with the overall food quality ! Service is average , and the restaurant had a okish buzz. I will definitely not go back as there are far better alternatives in my humble opinion!

Probably the best independent Pizzeria in the greater Randburg area. Look and feels very Italian Countryside...Service was sharp and friendly. Go have a pizza and bottle of Red, it will be memorable.

What a great space. Friendly service, amazing food and good wine. Starters were amazing and waiters knew what we wanted before we asked. Mains were incredible and filled with flavor. We will definitely be back.

Lucio's is a landmark in Randburg area, however I am disappointed with their food. Who puts tinned mushrooms in your pasta!! I had the steak pasta and it had 3 pieces of meat and no sauce. It also did not taste like much which is not too strange when you try to build flavor with tinned mushrooms!!<br/>Husband had the seafood pizza and was also very bland, definitely not worth the money. In top of this, we waited 40 min!😤

Friendly service, good decor and general feel but the food unfortunately is under whelming. Our two pizzas were uninspiring and the three pasta dishes we had were very bland.

Just got home from Lucio's, and I have never in my life had a worse dining experience. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the food, due to the fact that my wife and I waited for over an hour and half still not having eaten. As far as the service was concerned, initially it seemed that the service would be good, but this to added to the disappointing evening. The girl that was the runner, clearing tables actually checked in after about every waiter just walked right by our table. I noticed that numerous tables had also waited for an hour for their food. We eventually got up and requested the bill for our drinks, and suddenly everyone jumped to help us. I paid for the single ice tea and sparkling water my wife and I had, even left a tip. One of the waiters did however run after us to apologise as we got into our car, saying that all of the sudden our food was ready. He asked if we minded coming back on a night that was not as busy. After spoiling valentines day, I don't want to go back there ever again. Its not like I would know what I'm missing out on anyway. We arrived at 19:50 and left at 21:35. If I could I would rate Lucio's a zero.

A little gem that never disappoints... great service, well trained, friendly staff. Amazing setting once inside... almost feels like it could be in Italy. The food is consistently great, and we have been regular visitors over the past 10 years. The Calzone is the best in the province (according to my very critical husband), the wine list is really special and the Carpaccio was just perfect.

Realy didn't have a good experience at Lucio's today. My son ordered a fold over pizza. When he started to eat the pizza, it was raw inside. Because I almost finished my meal by the time his second pizza was delivered at the table, we asked for a take away of the pizza. .Needless to say by that time he was very hungry. We had to bake the take away pizza at home because it was raw again!

Founded by Claudio Merlo and once my favourite Italian restaurant, Lucio's has consistently disappointed me with four bad experiences, each one worse than the other.<br/><br/>I had actually stopped going to Lucio's, once my favourite restaurant, but as the festive season has not quite come to an end, my "new" favourite Italian restaurant was not yet open for the new year.<br/><br/>After a long wait, my pizza arrived. Not only did it look unappetising, it was also cold and the dough base was still uncooked. It was obviously baked in an oven with enough top heat to melt the cheese but insufficient bottom heat to cook the bread. It is not the first, or second time I have experienced this. Naturally, I sent it back.<br/><br/>A new pizza arrived, now piping hot, but it looked equally unappetising. It resembled a sloppy porridge. The tomato looked as if it has been "chucked" onto the base together with a handful of Mozzarella cheese, some toppings and then tossed into an oven and baked.  <br/><br/>I ate with really long teeth. The pizza tasted like one of those creations that kids produce at a birthday party! I have to say that even those take out pizza franchises serve more appetising pizza. I left half of my pizza and when the waitress asked if I wanted to take the rest home, I had to decline! <br/><br/>My heart goes out to Bimba, the owner, but if she wants to sustain a good restaurant, she will have to ensure very tight supervision in the kitchen, perk up the once fantastic service and get this restaurant back on track!

Great night out in a relaxed restaurant. Good service provided by experienced friendly staff. Taste Italian food at a reasonable price. Konichiwa

Deceptively ordinary from the bustle of a busy Beyers Naudé... I have often passed by wondering what it is like as the carpark is always full... my son said it was time to visit... and even the entrance was immediately much more than ordinary... A hearty, warmly colourful family vibe buzzing with laughter and activity... and Jordan was on hand to greet us with an unusual warmth and professional servitude that I promise you is hard to come by in South Africa...<br/><br/>Only one craft beer available - but no more necessary than the Berghof from a micro brewery in Pretoria. A delicious, textured beer. Luke had his staple passion fruit and lemonade.<br/><br/>For our meals, Luke had the fettucini carbonara. The creamy egg sauce was infused with a bold smoky bacon taste that every now and then rewarded your taste buds with an actual piece of bacon. Scrumptuous! The absolute best, however, was the lemon and herb lamb shank with a dash of chili. Outstanding! Remarkably tender, the meat fell off the bones simply by lifting them up! I cannot recommend this dish enough. In fact I am afraid I may never order any of their famous pizza's or pasta for myself and will always order this exceptional dish. I will always have to taste other people's food!<br/><br/>The malva pudding is however clearly on the menu to appease the traditional South African dessert palate - and is not an Italian dish which I am sure will be delicious when I next visit and give the Tiramisu a whirl.<br/><br/>What a fabulous family restaurant with excellent homely service and incredible food. I think I have my 'local' now! Thank you!<br/><br/>

Discovered this little beaut 8 years ago while at varsity. What a pleasure, cosy decor, friendly welcoming staff and exceptional food. If you are looking for a proper plate of Italian food, pasta or pizza, this is the place to go. Pure joy!

The food overall was very good , the lamb chops was succulent , the chicken liver pasta with penne was tasty . Still a very good neighbourhood restaurant.

Im giving this restaurant a 2.5 because their pizza to me was really average.  I know that they have received a lot of good reviews from people who have been going here since they were wee little toddlers and the neighbourhood regulars. Since I am an outsider sentiment will not be involved.<br/><br/>I personally did not find anything wrong with the decor.  It suited the type of restaurant.  The table cloths seemed to be clean.  What did bug me a huge amount was the tiles on the floors.  It looked extremely dated and extremely dirty and gave the whole place a dirty dark feeling.  If they were just to change the tiles to lighter it would make a huge impact on the restaurant. I found the service to be extremely slow, in fact the waitress forgot one of my toppings on the pizza and forgot to look in on us as time passed.  I was having to look for her on the other side of the restaurant on 2 occasions and there were only 3 tables occupied so it was not busy.<br/><br/>I DONT like it when restaurants leave cutlery to stand indefinite on the tables.  People can sneeze on them, cough on them and I think you loose track of when last they were last washed.<br/><br/>As for the pizza, I did not find the deep pan pizza so 'deep'.  It was slightly higher than a normal Debonairs pizza.  I also found that the tomato sauce that was put on had no real flavour as well as the mozzarella. I tasted no oregano or time or anything to give the base some flavour.<br/><br/>I was utterly dissapointed when I saw the desert menu, 95% is bought in, nothing better you can pick up and yet again at a Debonairs or Nando's.  The waitress also confirmed that very little deserts are made on site.<br/><br/>I dont think I will give this restaurant another visit as frankly I have a better pizza place just around the corner from me.  It was quite dissapointing as I was looking forward to an amazing pizza going on all the reviews.

Its undeniable that Lucio's is a place buzzing with life. Overflowing with the young & old, it's a warm, friendly, unpretentious and welcoming environment where the paintings covering the walls are as diverse as the restaurants occupants. <br/><br/>We came here on a Saturday night, clearly a sign that we're getting old but a few glasses of sangria made us feel better about that. The food was good. Not incredible, not noteworthy and not particularly memorable - but what it lacked for in originality it made up for in heartiness. <br/><br/>I veered as far away from the pizza as possible - the words "deep pan" sends chills down my spine - in fact, i veered so far away from the pizza that I ordered the Veal Limone which was (surprisingly) rich. My boyfriend ordered the chicken cannelloni which he loved, but saying that, if I covered an old shoe in cheese and baked it he'd love that as well. As long as theres a 'healthy' serving of cheese on anything he's happy. <br/><br/>I would definitely go back to Lucio's again. Perhaps, though, on a colder winters night when I'm craving something warm and filling.

I was dying to try out Lucios as I drive past it quite often, the restaurant is quite big but still has nice Cosy feel to it, the staff were very friendly and service was good. The pizza was a deep pan pizza but you can request a thinner base, I ordered a thin marinara pizza, not quite for me tbh the pizza looked good but the base wasn't crispy etc for lack of a better description it was almost soggy, and you couldn't really eat it other your hand as it just flopped. My Partner really enjoyed her Pesto pasta.

My friend absolutely loves this place. So for her birthday we decided to take her here for dinner. I had never been before and was pleasantly surprised. From the outside the place looks a little small but once inside the decor is old school and there's a big fountain that the tables are set around. The waitstaff are a quite friendly but it did take ages for them to show up and take our orders for drinks, mains and dessert and then it took extra long for everything to arrive. I ordered the baked chicken pasta, while my boyfriend ordered the standard pizza with bacon, feta and avo, our friends ordered the spinach ravioli in a mushroom sauce and the carbonara. The pastas, all of them, were absolutely divine! The portions are quite big, I even took half of my pasta home! The standard pizza however, was quite small and had a little too much feta on it for my liking, making it quite salty. The prices aren't bad either! We then ordered dessert and continues to wait for about an hour for it to arrive (same as our mains) and we had to go to the counter to ask what was going on, we had ordered the canalino, chocolate lava cake and the bar one chocolate mousse all of which tasted good when it finally arrived.. I will definitely be back here but hopefully this time I'll get better service.

Popular pizzeria. Very friendly service. Quality food, quality ingredients and very personal attention to customer experience. Always packed with diners and longstanding reputation. Loved the starters and pizza options. Well done Lucios!

After what seems like a millennium we decided to visit Lucios for a quick Sunday dinner....<br/>As awesome as I recall, the decor is eccentric to say the least and everywhere you look something unusual catches your eye. The vibe is friendly and so familiar you could almost be having dinner at Mom. <br/>We had chicken livers to start... Very very different, the menu says it all, filled with a perfect masala flavours, more sensational on the taste buds than some Indian curries. My only fault is that they were ever so slightly on the over done side, but scrumptious. I then had the black mushroom pasta, it was noted by my fabulous man that I didn't drown it in garlic, chilies and Parmesan.... That's coz it was just superb, maybe a touch of fresh basil could have finished it off. He made his own bacon and chicken pizza, perfectly seasoned on a thin base. <br/>Would love to see Lucios lasting another 30 odd years.

No complaints. Not a single one. Everything was perfect! I had the Claudio ❤ and the Tiramisu ❤❤ And they have the most delicious coffee. Wonderful service, reasonable prices, immaculate bathrooms and the fountain is a Pokestop 😆😆

Decent pizza and very generous mains. Nice chocolate mousse too. Very varied menu with something for everyone. I've always liked the veal dishes.

Randomly stumbled upon this place one night and was pleasantly surprised. It has a very chilled vibe with great food. Their pizzas amazing, with a delicious crust. I had the spinach and feta, and they were very generous with the amount of toppings. However, the standard pizza is quite small. Their lamb shank is great as well, falls off the bone and has a deliciously sweet sauce to accompany it, with some veggies. Yum yum!

Can recommend the fettuccini basil pest, panseritti napolitana as well as the herb focacia.

Was a great spontaneous experience to find this place on the way home. Had a delicious spicy chicken , feta and peppers dew pizza. The service was fantastic and had most polite and kind waiters. Was great to find a restaurant the genuinely cares for thee customers.

What a wonderful and unexpected experience we had at Lucio's. I have driven past this restaurant for many years now and never thought of trying it out. I suppose that's because from the outside it looks a bit worse for wear or long in the tooth. But you can't judge a book by its cover! <br/><br/>We just loved the eclectic decor and style of the restaurant, it has obviously worked for them thus far. Who else can boast being in business for the past three decades. Well done! It's a family gem. <br/><br/>The menu may be in a bit of a time wrap but its an original. For starters we had the carpaccio, a Greek salad & focaccia with mozzarella and garlic. The carpaccio came with slightly toasted sour dough bread which was strange to me however I'm told it was good. My Greek salad had gherkins instead of cucumber it was fresh and the feta was really good. <br/><br/>For mains I had the spinach lasagna and my fiancé had the carne pizza. He prefers thick based pizza and he told me the Ninja Turtles would love this pizza soft and plenty of cheese that stretches out and you can fold it up to eat. My lasagna was piping hot and delicious. The portions were substantial. <br/><br/>The waiters are students and it's good to see them getting supported. <br/><br/>Fiancé was chuffed to be able to try a new draught beer on tap, Berghoff.<br/><br/>We will definitely be back.<br/><br/>😊😊🙂 - ambience <br/>😊🙂🙂 - service <br/>😊😊😊 - food

This place needs to be dragged into the 21st century. The wait for my food was at 30 minutes, maybe an hour, I didn't time it and the food was meh. The decor is tacky. BUT worse of all - a server asked behind our back if we had paid --- at that moment my colour became extremely apparent. I will never set foot at Lucio's again

Love the décor and the feel walking into this little Italian restaurant! The staff very welcoming and attentive and the pizza is great! The standard size might not look big but it is quite filling. I also love it when you pull a slice away and struggle to separate a cheese string because it's such good cheese. That's how I know it's good pizza.

Lucio's makes the best margarita pizza in joburg. Double the cheese and all the way to the edge so you end up with a crispy cheesey crust. Quaint little restaurant with friendly servers.

Awesome restaurant, lovely food, great ambiance and always a good time! We go there often and service is always excellent. We have never had a bad experience there

This gem of a restaurant never disappoints! We keep going back again and again. It is really difficult to find a restaurant nowadays that becomes a regular favorite. Keep up the good work! I recommend the Ravioli Picante!

Food and service always  makes one feel as if you are the only people in the restaurant, Cannot fault anything as it has a great vibe wither there are two of you or a whole group its my all time favorite Italian  experience

Popped in here on a recommendation from a friend. The pizzas are awesome, piled with toppings. I've never seen that much bacon and feta on a pizza. The decor is quirky and fun. Service was great.

We dropped in at Lucio's and had a really good experience. The ambience was pleasant, the service was prompt and friendly, and we enjoyed the meal. We both had pizzas, and they were really good. The dessert was tiramisu, which was sadly rather bland.

What a quaint little restaurant lovely food and great service. Definitely worth a return visit.

Quaint, not so little, Italian restaurant. <br/><br/>The service was excellent, the pizza's were traditional and superb.<br/><br/>Look forward to returning, and trying the pasta next<br/><br/><br/>

I Love Lucio's I have been there a dozen times, perfect for romantic dinners or intimate dinners with family and friends, their service is prompt, their uniqueness is and character is amazing but most of all their food is out of this world divine!! I personally already recommend them to everyone I know.

If you drive on Beyers-Naude drive in the Northcliff area, you can very easily pass this hidden gem of a restaurant.  If you see the name sign, you will think "pizza can only be so good".  If you think that, you are wrong!  I never tasted pizza that actually tastes different, and that does not have something strange on.  So you can expect a pizza with all the conventional toppings, but with a taste out of this world.  The restaurant has a very warm feeling, relaxed, and the service is good.  Do yourself a favour and make sure you visit this restaurant soon.

This restaurant is a true hidden gem.  I always say that pizza is pizza, but here the pizza is definitely different and very good.  Service was good and the prices reasonable.  Not well situated, but inside it has a warm and welcoming ambiance.

This is one of my favourite spots for Italian cuisine. Service is efficient and friendly. Warm and cozy setting. Food is amazing. Great selection of wines. Try the baked feta started!!! Oh my g-d, it was delicious!! The pizzas and pasta are amazing. Ive never left dissatisfied.

Went here yesterday for a sibling meet up, only word I can use is terrible. Used to come here a few years ago, so don't know what has happened to it. I'm sure the empty tables tell a story. My salad was bland, my brothers pizza was terrible. Only good thing was our lovely waitress.

What a surprise! Went here after a music festival to the greatest vibe and the most delicious pizza! The waiters are friendly, food is delicious and it doesn't break the bank. They also stream Italian radio which gives it an authentic Italian feel. Can't wait to come back.

Such a nice cosy and warm restuarant! The calzones are out of this world, they are topped with cheese and just cooked perfectly. Highly recommended for a good pizza or pasta dish.

Warm, loving and extremely friendly atmosphere. A family experience. Fantastic and helpful staff and great service all round. The homemade pizza however, was very disappointing. With a cakey, doughey texture and slightly underdone (yet still slightly burnt) I would have expected better from a pizza joint...

What a wonderful and authentic Italian restaurant! Before you even walk in, the enticing scent of freshly made pizzas and pastas waft through the parking lot. As you make your way through the somewhat cluttered, but completely perfect decor to your table you get a real sense of the heritage of this restaurant. <br/><br/>The staff are lovely, helpful and attentive without being annoying. The menu is large enough to satisfy any customer, but small enough for everything to be made beautifully. <br/><br/>And my word was it made well! My friend ordered the spinach fettacini with pesto sauce which was delicious, but it definitely could have done with an extra minute of cooking. The star of the show was my gnocchi gorgonzola (my all time favourite pasta). I have very high standards for this dish and order it everywhere I go. If you read some of my other reviews you will know that this humble dish had some stiff competition. It has to be one of the better dishes I've had. The sauce was delicious, if not too strong; the gnocchi was light, if not a little sticky; the portion size was big, just the way I like it. Even with all these tweaks I would have made, it was still a superb dish they needn't bother with any of my suggestions!<br/><br/>I will be back in a heartbeat for that gnocchi and jolly atmosphere. If you haven't tried this neighborhood classic, you are missing out!

An Italian institution! The decor is old but it ads to the character. The food is great but the service is average on a busy night. Great for a family dinner

Growing up my family and I drove past this place and now I finally tried it out...True Italian food. It's family owned so attention is paid to the food and the food is not too fancy it's true simple but yet incredibly delicious Italian cuisine. Great pizza and pasta, bread and desserts. The waiters can help you match the wine to the food.

My family and I have been going to Lucio's Pizzeria since about 1998, when it was our favourite spot to go for a treat! Having since moved countries and returned again, it was so nice to find myself back there. It is exactly as I remember it, if not better. The legacy of Claudio lives on as every table is filled by 18:30 (booking is essential), and tables continue to be filled as soon as they're empty. Service is friendly and efficient, but not rushed — we were made to feel comfortable and at home, and in no way expected to hurry our meal along despite how busy the restaurant gets. <br/><br/>The food was superb. We had the most amazing focaccia with carpaccio, rocket and pecorino to start, followed by next-level, legit deep-pan pizzas (there is an option for a thinner base). I had the Alfredo, which was just as enjoyable as I remember it being 10 years ago! The pasta is home made and a treat to eat all on its own, and the portions are generous and the true definition of value for money. <br/><br/>You absolutely have to give it a shot if you're a fan of Italian food or looking for some fresh, home made pasta. Perfect for any sort of evening — albeit a romantic date or a night out with your family and friends, this long-run, family-owned establishment is the place to go.

Come hungry. <br/>My biggest gripe with Lucio's is that everything on the menu is so appealing that I didn't quite know what to choose. I was blown away with the amazing service and so pleased with my meal. I will definitely be going back soon.

If its pizzas you crave this is the place unfortunately it does not hold true for the remainder of the menu but here pizzas and pastas are priority.<br/>The starters lack inspiration and fish must rather be left for ocean basket.<br/>The sangria is a winner and the service are always prompt and good.Not small child friendly but this is not Spur or Wimpy.

Great place, the baked feta is a great starter, the sliced mushrooms that I did not order also looked amazing. This was the first time I have patronised the establishment and I thoroughly recommend it. Great abience as well, the art work on the walls adds a nice touch. One of those unique places that let's you escape your surroundings if only for a short while.

I've been to this restaurant about 5 times and i can't give it more than 2.5 unless one has the pizzas which I'd then rate 4.0.<br/>Maybe I'm missing something but for me i find the food very ordinary.<br/>I love Italian food but as i said this restaurant just doesn't turn me on.<br/>I'll be going back at some stage so hopefully i can upgrade my assessment which will be more in conformity with other patrons.<br/>

Oh Lucios! If i could eat here everyday, i would. Baked feta is one of the absolute best dishes on this menu. You just cannot make it at home. Hawaiian pizza. Sangria, red wine! Even fresh salads for lunch. Always just perfect. Delightful, cheeky and vibrant decor. Even special occasions like Valentines are great. Always, always book.

Lucio's Pizzeria is legendary and as such, I used to frequent it often. What's not to love about a big glass of red wine and some authentic Italian food in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere?<br/><br/>This family owned and run 'Hidden Gem' really is an institution in the Northcliff area and has been going since 1987 which makes it one of the most tried and tested hidden gems that I have ever seen. I actually assumed that I had already written a review on it, as it really is one of those restaurants that has stood the test of time.<br/><br/>When I first visited Lucio's many years ago, it was managed and owned by the late Claudio Merlo. Since his passing, his vivacious and hospitable wife Bimba has taken over with just as much love and it really is hard not to feel at home right away when you arrive. Brightly coloured tables, art, sentimental Italian bric-à-brac and Ferrari memorabilia are just some of the things that add to this homely decor.<br/><br/>Onto the food: Lucio's offer everything from the traditional antipasti and salads to pizzas, pastas and the la carne, pollo, and pesce dishes in generous and reasonably priced portions. <br/>My favourite pizza has to be Claudio's with generous portions of cheese, a tomato base, bacon, feta and avocado.. But for me personally, the truly special dishes are Lucio's pastas. All pastas are prepared to your liking, with Parmesan cheese and everything from the Fettuccini, Gnocchi, Panzerotti, Ravioli or Spinach Fettuccini is homemade.<br/>My favourite pasta: Panzerotti Napoletana! Think homemade pasta sachets filled with spinach and ricotta cheese in a Napoletana sauce. I will be sure to take photos of my food on my next visit..<br/><br/>It is so wonderful to see Claudio's legacy live on through Bimba, Giuliano and Armando and I only wish that I lived closer. I have actually thought that it will be a wonderful spot for an intimate and festive birthday dinner!<br/><br/>*Recommendation: For homely authentic Italian - Lucios is a must try! And for those of you who love Italian, but battle with gluten, Lucio's offer a rice fettuccini pasta that is gluten free.

This is one of my all time favourite restaurants in johannesburg. I absolutely love the Lucio Calzone. And Bimba always welcomes one with a smile

We had my daughters 16th birthday celebration here last week. The food was great, the atmosphere lovely. Really interesting art and decor and it was the perfect cosy, intimate venue for this occasion.

Great food, awesome vibe and very interesting decor. The restaurant definitely has that homey 'Italian feel' to it and is extremely buzzing during peak hours. <br/><br/>With one look at the menu it was easy to see that their prices are very reasonable and they have quite a lot to offer in terms of meal selection. <br/><br/>My only issue was the slow service as we waited for almost 45 minutes for two pizza's. It was somewhat understandable as the restaurant was fully booked and they had a lot on their plates (excuse the pun). That being said the staff were very friendly and helpful and constantly came to check up on us. <br/><br/>I ordered their Carné Pizza and it was quite delicious. I opted for their deep-pan pizza base and must say I found it a bit doughy, however the toppings were so good that it really didn't matter to me. <br/><br/>Overall we had a really great experience and I will definitely be back to try some of their pastas and other items on their menu.

Lucio's always used to be one of our favourite Jozi restaurants but when our children were very little, we stopped going for a while and joined the Spur brigade. We often wondered whether the food standards had stayed the same after all these years. Recently, we went back, with our now older kids and we were pleased to discover that the food and service was still fab after all these years. The calzone hasn't changed and I need to go back for a pasta soon.

Been going there for 20 years! Stunning pizza,pasta,coffee and vibe! They are extremely popular so you have to book. Order quickly if it's extremely busy. They have a generator during load shedding! It's a family run buisness. Luv their family and staff!

The last time I was at lucios was way back when I was at school. Took our little ones out for a pizza all these years later and what a delightful little Resturant. We ordered a pizza, calzone (they can turn any pizza into a calzone for you) and a pasta. While not haute cuisine, great for a night when you don't feel like cooking. I'd definitely go back for pizza.

Went to the restaurant for the first time and had my custom pizza that I have at all Italian restaurants I go to. This pizza was very very good. Service was fast and almost too efficient. This may be our family's new go to place.

The pastas and pizzas are tasty and fresh . It's not a fine dining restaurant but it's welcoming with good food and friendly service. Worth a try if you are a pizza/ pasta fan. Sangria is tasty too 😉

I have never been at a table here with any unhappy diners.<br/>Home made gnocchi, great pasta, scrumptious pizzas.<br/><br/>The salads and starters will fill up the not so hungry friends at the table.<br/><br/>It's like the homemade Italian food you wished you could make to share with friends.<br/><br/>

My father has loved Lucio's for over 15 years now. He is a die hard fan and could live off only their food. I on the other hand an not as big of a fan. Personally the pizza base is too thick for me and after all the cheese gets added it becomes too oily for me. About an hour after eating I feel as though I ate a rock! The Alfredo I ate once tasted like ready-made, straight-out-the-packet, just-add-water type of sauce. If you are a fan of a thick base pizza this is your place. The staff really are almost all students from the surrounding areas and are friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is incredible, it feels very homely,comfortable and warm.

Always good, always consistent. Excellent service and delicious food. If you're in a mood for a well cooked, home style Italian meal - this is the place to go. Pizzas are enormous, loaded with scrumptious toppings, never managed to finish one.

Alfredo pasta not great. Too much and watery cream sauce. Waitress was excellent through. Won't go back there in a hurry. The first time I ate there was a pizza so maybe it is just the pasta that was sub par.

I have always driven pass this homely restaurant and only tried it recently after 7. Years of living in this area ! I cannot get enough. Luscios has delicious home made pasta and their pizzas are perfect to my liking: not too thin and not too thick either. The pizza reminded me of the pizza in New York... The to die for crust and drizzle of olive oil over the pizza.. Authentic!It's a very cosy homely kind of an ambience. The service is impeccable which is very rare at most restaurants these days. The first time I tried Lucios I tried the melenzane which was disappointing for me : the portion was too big and the aubergibes were gone black.. However the rest of the food was delicious. Im in love with the food and highly recommend it to people who would have a strong appreciation for good food

Beautifully prepared comfort food, perfect for the first touch of autumn in the air. Friendly service, authentic, wholesome Italian food. Yum!

I have been going to Lucio's for about fifteen years and they never disappoint. Their Carbonara (although it is made with cream) is sublime. Their pizzas are delicious too and service is always on point. They're also fully operational during load shedding.

Good food, good vibe and good service. With thick pan based pizza, home made pasta and an authentic Italian setting, Lucios is definitely a hidden gem here in Johannesburg. Definitely worth a try especially if you into pizza, pasta and wine

The people are great, with friendly efficient service, complemented by the eclectic decor, with the only disappointment being the food. It was not horrible, the toppings are more than generous but the paper-like mushrooms and the lack of great flavour didn't do it for me, if only it tasted as great as it looked....

I absolutely love lucios!! It is my favourite restaurant ever :) from the great service to the delicious meals you are guaranteed a good time

Thank you to all for your input and comments below. We appreciate and value feedback from our regular and new customers. Our focus for 2015, is on specific areas where we feel we could improve to make your time spent at Lucios Pizzeria a more memorable and enjoyable one. Our well trained waitrons together with our managers are there to assist you at all times. We have introduced new tasty dishes and will continue to serve our renowned signature dishes and offer our warm Italian atmosphere like we've been doing since 1987. Follow us on Facebook/Twitter and become part of the tapestry of our Italian family." Why not celebrate your special Valentines day in a special Italian romantic decorated setting? Kindly note, bookings are essential in order to avoid disappoinment.

I've driven past this place quite a few times and I finally decided to try it out. The staff were very friendly however the service was a bit slow. I liked the decor of the place, it's a bit different to other places. I had a pizza (the default is a deep pan base but you can ask for a thinner base) which was quite good and they are quite generous with their toppings. My brother had the cannelloni and he said it was good as well

Friendly service but extreeeeemely slow (30 mins for a salad and another 30 mins for pizza). The salads were tasteless - although the bocconcini had a bitter taste, we don't think it was fresh. The pizza was doughy and there was a complete lack of flavour to it. We had to ask for the bill 3 times. The decor of the place made us feel claustrophobic and so did the security gates. It was hot and crowded, we didn't feel the Italian flare at all... This is not authentic Italian food, I have to agree with another review, calling it "Italian cuisine" is a bit adventurous. We will not be going back in a hurry.<br/>---<br/><br/>Update: 26 July 2015. The owner of the restaurant read my review above and told me never to go back. Since this shows a complete lack of hospitality skills and/or passion for what they are doing, I have decreased my review to 1 point. The fact that the restaurant has been opened for 28 years does not mean that they deliver great food or great service - certainly not the night I visited their restaurant. Being rude, dismissive and selfish does not go well with the service industry!

Relaxed down to earth atmosphere. Bookings are essential for this popular spot. Especially over weekends! The food is absolutely amazing and quite affordable. A great spot whether you want to have a romantic evening with a loved one over good food or wine or you want to catch up and spend some quality time with friends.

Good unassuming food served well. I have not been here for some time, I had calzone which was great the others had pasta . The service was good <br/> We will be back ,

a great atmosphere of a typical Italian place<br/>though located very close to where i live, i haven't been here too often, but now it will be on my list of places to grab a good, wholesome meal!<br/><br/>we had a bruschetta, with tomatoes and onions, topped it with their special 'chilly olive oil' and balsamic vinegar- it tasted great! we also had a the spinach lasagne, which was so comforting but filling. really enjoyed it, for the second time, when i had it for breakfast the next day :)

Good food an service. Fun to take a group of friends for an affordable outing.

Lucio's Pizzeria is absolutely fantastic. They make a deep dish style pizza, and it is better than any pizza in Joburg. Fantastic food, and the service is also excellent. If you are a pizza lover, definitely try the Claudio's special. Based on the fact that the queues extend to outside the premises on Friday nights can attest to how great the place is. <br/><br/>Amazing pizzeria!