Experience the charm of northern Italy close to home with timeless architecture and authentic Italian cuisine at Luciano’s, known for its rich history and culinary excellence.
Story and Photos by Tim O’Brien
Upon stepping into the dining room of Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano, one is instantly immersed in the timeless architecture and ambience of classic Italian eateries throughout Europe. With the white tablecloths and fresh rose table settings, it resembles fine dining in an intentionally casual environment. You may feel as if you’ve stumbled into the setting of a story, or several. There is a sense that many people have dined here over the years — families, friends, business partners.
“When you come in, it really feels like you belong, like you’re part of a family that just gets together to have a great time,” says Beto Tenorio, Customer Experience Officer for the Norsan Restaurant Group. The group consists of several Atlanta-area restaurants including Frankie’s The Steakhouse, Pampas Steakhouse, Frontera Mexican Kitchen and more.
For eight consecutive years, Luciano’s was awarded the Best Power Lunch by Gwinnett Magazine. Anyone in the community, from lawyers to teachers, has gathered here for lunch and dinner.
Tenorio says they serve mostly families, but that they cater to businesses as well. “A lot of business was done here,” says Tenorio. “It created a sense of a family and a sense of a belonging here.”
Luciano’s can be found right off of Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The restaurant opened in its current location in 2008 and has remained a staple in the community ever since. Even as the area has grown in recent years, it still maintains an intimate feel.
“Everybody knew each other,” says Tenorio. “It was like a family, you know, gathering every single night. I remember that from back in the day and it’s been like that throughout the years.”
The Dining Experience
So why has the restaurant garnered such a loyal customer base? Chef Tom Minchella will tell you it’s because there’s always something new on the menu.
“Appetizers, pizzas, pastas, steaks, house-made desserts, and an extensive award-winning wine list,” says Minchella, the Corporate Executive Chef for Norsan Restaurants. “Luciano’s is a place that has traditional Northern Italian food with a rich rustic flavor.”
The restaurant’s Northern Italy motif came about the same way as the Argentinian theme behind Pampas Steakhouse: through travel. The owner, who traveled to Italy and fell in love with their wines, wanted to bring that experience home.
“We want guests to feel that we took them on a tour of Italy without leaving their own neighborhood,” says Tenorio. “That’s what we want them to remember.”
Food has always been tied closely with forming core memories. Taste and smell drive our experience, and Luciano’s serves as a canvas for life’s greatest moments; the go-to venue for milestones like birthdays and anniversaries where specialty food is paramount.
Culinary Curation
While travel is considered a special occasion to most, Luciano’s bridges that gap.
“[Our] connection to Northern Italy lies in our rich hearty dishes, often featuring cream-based sauces, butter, cheeses, and tomatoes, along with a variety of steaks and pork, rich stews, and braises,” says Chef Minchella. “Luciano’s offers a delightful blend of rich flavors and hearty ingredients reflecting the region’s unique cultural and geographical influence.” Their menu is no casual arrangement. As the creative mind behind the menu, everything is designed meticulously by Minchella, who oversees all of Norsan’s restaurants, trains the staff, and even does the meat and produce shopping.
While Luciano’s has a distinctive Italian influence, Chef Minchella searches far and wide for the best ingredients for his dishes. Beyond trying new things in the kitchen, Minchella does lots of research and even attends food shows across the country.
At the Chicago Food Show, Minchella saw these fantastic artichokes out of Barcelona called the “Ultimate” artichoke prepared in a confit of olive oil. This delicious appetizer, which can be found on their current menu, has become one of Minchella’s favorites and it’s easy to see why.
Other preferred menu options include any one of their selection of pastas, Neapolitan pizza, and golden brown flatbread. Not to mention the steak, cooked in their newly acquired Josper oven (a rare sight in Italian cuisine), a large coal-fired oven that enhances the flavor profile of anything that goes into it.
Other crowd favorites include the Beef Carpaccio — thinly sliced beef, garlic aioli, and arugula — and the newly added Gorgonzola Pizza with Asian pear, fresh thyme, and caramelized onions. And we haven’t even reached the wine list yet.
Luciano’s award-winning wine list was designed by a certified Sommelier and features countless varieties from different regions all over Italy, as well as Spain and California. You won’t have any trouble finding an adequate pairing for your favorite dish.
A Perfect Balance
“Our food is ambitious but it’s still traditional,” says Minchella. “We use the finest ingredients available in a very creative manner, and quality is our main priority.”
While Luciano’s and Norsan as a whole find innovation is the key to success, they show great reverence towards their culinary roots.
“I think that you have to try to match the traditional techniques and then use that foundation and innovation to evolve in the cuisine,” says Minchella. “I’m concerned with both evolution and tradition, and just trying to find a balance between them.”
That balancing act goes beyond just the plate, however. While Chef Minchella carries the kitchen on his back, he finds the front of house equally as important.
“The best service in a restaurant is a harmonious blend of efficiency, knowledge, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality,” says Minchella. “It creates a positive and lasting impression, encouraging guests to return and recommend the restaurant to others.”
That blend of tradition, innovation and personal touch has made Luciano’s the timeless institution it is today, where North Italy meets North Atlanta. You don’t need to travel to join this journey. When you dine at Luciano’s, you immediately become a part of the community.
“I would like our guests to be left with a memory of a family environment, with great Italian food and friendly ambience,” says Minchella. “People can come here, relax, enjoy themselves, and not have to drive a long distance to have a unique dining experience. They can be taken care of right here.”
Luciano’s is located at 6555 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. For more information, visit LucianosItaly.com.
