Name: Luce
Contact Info: 791 King W., 647-748-5464, luceonking.com, @luceonking
Neighbourhood: Niagara
Owners: Husband-and-wife team Mario Giorgio and Maria Strazzanti. The couple used to own next-door fine foods grocer The King’s Table
Chef: Maria Strazzanti, who learned to cook from her Sicilian mother
The Food: Neapolitan-style pizzas and simple pastas, most of which can be ordered gluten-free. Desserts include dark chocolate cannoli, lemon cake and vegan tiramisu, which gets its creaminess from coconut milk.
The Drinks: A handful of Ontario wines, 11 microbrews and signature cocktails like the citrusy, gin-based Lady Marmalade.
The Place: A casual trattoria tucked on the ground floor of a King West condo tower. The simple space is decorated with local artwork and photos of chef Maria Strazzanti’s family in Sicily.
The Numbers:
• 30 seats
• 11 sandwiches on the pranzo (lunch) menu
• $2.50 per additional meatball
• $2 extra for gluten-free pasta
244379 Luce is located on King West, between Tecumseth and Niagara (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a001/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a001 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244380 (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A002.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a002/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a002 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244381 (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A003.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a003/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a003 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244382 Photos of chef Maria Strazzanti’s family in Sicily (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a004/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a004 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244383 The restaurant sells a selection of Italian olive oil, spices and crackers (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A005.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a005/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a005 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244384 Tuna salad with fresh basil and oregano ($10) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a006/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a006 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244385 Chicken parmigiana sandwich with roasted rosemary potatoes ($11) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A007-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A007.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A007.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a007/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a007 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244386 Grilled vegetable salad with eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and balsamic vinaigrette ($8) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A008-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A008.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-A008.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-a008/ toronto-restaurants-luce-a008 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244387 Chicken penne with roasted red peppers, basil and Parmesan ($12) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B001-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B001.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B001.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b001/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b001 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244388 One of eight pizzas on the menu, this one topped with prosciutto, red onions, mushrooms, peppers and mozzarella cheese ($15) (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B002-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B002.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B002.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b002/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b002 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244389 (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B003-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B003.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B003.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b003/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b003 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244390 Homemade honey-almond clusters (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B004-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B004.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B004.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b004/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b004 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244391 Lady Marmalade: gin, marmalade, orange zest, angostura bitters and simple syrup (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B005-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B005.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B005.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b005/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b005 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
244392 Espresso Martini: vodka, Kahlua and espresso (Image: Valerie Howes) Introducing: Luce https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B006-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B006.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/toronto-restaurants-luce-B006.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/luce-toronto-restaurants/slide/toronto-restaurants-luce-b006/ toronto-restaurants-luce-b006 0 0
(Image: Valerie Howes)
I visited Luce Restaurant by King & Bathurst this past Friday for the first time. From the moment I stepped into this restaurant I loved it! From the family pictures and paintings on the wall, to the cute and cozy vibe of the place. Our server and the owners of the restaurant were all wonderful from the moment they greeted us at the doors to the moment we finished our meal and left! We had a big family style dinner with a variety of pizza’s & pastas and they were all delicious! I definitely recommend the fried cauliflower and salami pizza!! I can’t wait till the Take Out/Rotisserie expansion opens up next door!! I will definitely be back for more delicious Italian food and with more people!