Picture a roaring fir, dim lights, an intimate candle-lit setting, great food and warm service. Stop dreaming and make reservations for Lucca at 1615 J St. in midtown.

This restaurant has everything whether you are looking for a destination to dine with friends or the perfect spot for a date or anniversary dinner.

First of all, I recommend you make reservations. We visited Lucca on a Thursday around 6:45 p.m. and had to wait about 40 minutes for a table for six people. Second, you should request a table “outside.” You don’t want to miss the environment their enclosed, fire-heated patio has to offer.

After waiting for our table, which was close to the fire and completely worth it, we started with zucchini chips from the appetizer menu for $4.50. The thinly sliced, crispy chips were lightly salted and slightly oily, but very delicious. The one appetizer was plenty for a group of six, an overflowing large plate.

The next course was mixed of soup and salads. The Lucca House Chopped Salad for $4.95 was small, but delicious and consisted of radicchio, romaine, and feta cheese tossed with lemon oregano vinaigrette. The dressing had the perfect blend of lemon and herbs to accompany the feta cheese.

The Caesar salad which was also $4.95 mixed romaine, parmesan, airy croutons and a very non-fishy, tasty Caesar dressing.

Lucca’s soup, Gazpacho, a blend of fresh tomatoes, garden vegetables and avocado, cilantro cream was a filling delicious blend of vegetables and a nice accompaniment to the evening for $4.95.

For our entrees, we chose two orders of the penne pasta, gnocchi, chicken saltimbocca, seared steak salad, and the special of the evening, seared ahi tuna.

The penne pasta for $8.95 was filled with roasted tomatoes, green olives, capers, garlic, and chili flakes topped with pangriata. This dish was very spicy, but delicious. The capers, garlic and spice were a very complimentary blend. However, the green olives seemed too flavorful and should have been excluded.

The house-made ricotta gnocchi was somewhat bland, but topped with a tasty, slightly spicy red sauce for $9.95.

Lucca’s chicken saltimbocca with pancetta, fontina cheese and sage served with mashed potatoes for $11.95 was absolutely delectable. The mashed potatoes tasted like Thanksgiving and the saltimbocca sauce was one like no other.

For $10.95 the seared steak salad consisted of romaine lettuce topped with gorgonzola, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives and crispy onions. As far as salads go, this one was very well made. The steak was cooked perfectly and accompanied by great flavors from the gorgonzola and crispy onions. The house dressing, lemon oregano vinaigrette, tasted like it had been created for the sole purpose of accompanying this salad.

Lucca’s special for the evening was seared ahi tuna. The tuna was perfectly seared on the outside and tenderly pink on the inside. Accompanied with their perfect potatoes for $19.99 this entree should be a permanent addition to their menu.

To compliment the great food, we added an equally impressive bottle of wine. This Sangiovese from Toscana Italy was only $22 and boasted strong cherry flavors and hidden smoky undertones. The bottle of wine seemed to accompany our wide array of entrees perfectly, so perfectly we decided to get another bottle.

After everything was finished ?” the wine, soup, salad, and entrees our bill came to $180 including tip for six people.

Lucca is definitely worth putting on your things to do list. Don’t be intimidated by the total of our bill, there is a way to experience this restaurant at a cheaper price.

The appetizer menu features dishes like the zucchini chips, grilled globe artichokes, Escargot and oysters on a half shell ranging in price from $4.50 to $10.95.

In addition, the menu boasts entrees and pasta dishes such as the golden chicken risotto, spaghetti and meatballs, linguine with prawns, half-pound burger, pan seared salmon and pork loin chop ranging in price from $8.95 to $14.95.

Overall, this is it ?” Lucca of Sacramento receives five out of five stars. The inviting environment, impressive cuisine and uncompromising service make this destination one like no other ?” just stay away from the Gnocchi.

If you are looking for someplace nice with reasonable prices, Lucca has got you covered. It is no wonder why Lucca was recognized more than once in the Sacramento Magazine 2005 Best of Sacramento as the third best new restaurant and the second best new Italian restaurant.

Rating: 5 Stars

All of Liz’s dining and nightlife reviews are held to this rating system:

1 Star: Stay at home.

2 Stars: Not worth the gas money.

3 Stars: If there’s nothing else to do –

4 Stars: Better than most.

5 Stars: Proves that Sacramento is more than just a cowtown.