NYC 2 BIG D: Day 2 - Fine Dining at Lucca's

Lucca’s

Rating: Yummm….Impressive!
Location: 56 North Last Chance Gulch Street
Helena, MT 59601
Category: Italian
Pricing: Pricey
Favorites: Lamb Chops, Roasted Chicken, Wine List

Comments:
If you are ever in Helena, Montana and want to impress your honey by wining and dining the night away…..well Lucca’s is the place to go. The ambience is quite romantic with the faux candle lighting, small intimate tables, and attractive Tuscan décor. On top of that, the service is impeccable. It’s a beer and wine only establishment, but have no fear because the list is quite extensive. Foodie??? This place is perfect for you! They start you off with an Amuse Bouche, which is basically a complimentary petite bite from the chef to “amuse” the palate. During this visit with MT’s parents, it was a mini goat cheese and tomato relish bruschetta….mmmm…..we were very amused! After choosing a bottle of wine, we ordered the Spinach Artichoke Dip as our appetizer and our waiter brought us some fresh bread made from Park Avenue, a local bakery nearby, accompanied with a balsamic dip and herb butter, all of which were quite tasty. The second you grab a spoonful of the dip you are hit with the wonderful aromas of garlic and parmesan, essentially enticing your taste buds before it touches your mouth….yum. Moving on to our entrees, MT’s parents ordered the Lamb Chops, and we chose the Roasted Chicken, both of which were split between us two couples, respectively, but before I delve into the flavors of our entrees I must digress about the salad that comes with your meal. After setting the table with chilled plates and forks, the waiter brings the salad out in a large bowl with tongs for everyone to serve themselves. It was a toss of mixed greens, dried cranberries, and candied pecans with a balsamic mustard dressing. Absolutely fantastic, but we had to save room for our main course. Our chicken was incredibly juicy and tender inside with a ton of flavor, and served with a side of Cremini mushroom pan jus, which was to die for! I couldn’t stop dipping my chicken into it and my side items, which consisted of steamed veggies, and crispy grilled polenta! My one and only complaint about the chicken was the fact that I yearned for a more crispy skin. It was a little too limp for my taste. I didn’t try the lamb chops because MT and I ordered them during our last visit to Montana in December, and they were extremely good. Perfectly tender, moist, with a nice drizzle of the feta-rosemary dressing to compliment the flavors. After our main course and completely stuffed, we reluctantly decided to order a dessert to divide amongst the table and coffees. When at an Italian restaurant you always order the tiramisu, so we did. The layered flavors of coffee, cream, and chocolate were all there, but I thought the cake was a little dry. Yes, they used yellow cake instead of lady fingers, which is fine by me, but it just didn’t cut it. The coffees were incredible because they bring each person a mini-French press for each cup of coffee, and it was goooood! Just don’t expect to fall asleep anytime soon after that cup because it’s strong as well, but don’t order decaf because it’s just a sin, so suck it up! Overall, come hungry, thirsty, and hopefully tired, so you can catch some Zzzzz’s after that Cup o’ Joe!