Lucio's BYOB and Grill

06/21/09

Great service and food

by Doublewheelranch at Citysearch

Food was very good, service even better. Nice setting, is casual but feels more. Appetizer's are great; crabcakes and LumpCrab; fish fresh and well prepared and presented. BYOWine is a great plus. Prices very resonable for the quality of food and service. Will go back until have tried all on menu, it was that good.

• Pros: Service
• Cons: parking

01/28/09

My favorite restaurant in Houston

by CDNMeg at Citysearch

I actually signed up for a CitySearch account just so I could give Lucio's the kudos it deserves! I am from Canada, most recently Montreal, and have found restaurant food in Houston underwhelming at best. Not so at Lucio's though...I rarely go out of my way to return to local eateries for a second go, but have been to this fabulous place 6 + times and counting! It is my go-to restaurant when planning get-togethers with friends, birthday parties, or just a nice evening away from my own kitchen. The food is delicious, and the staff is courteous and attentive beyond compare! I must also add that I am both gluten and lactose intolerant, and have never had a problem placing special orders here. I have even ordered "off menu" and asked the chef to prepare me special dishes on occasions when I've had cravings for certain ingredients, and have been catered to every time! The BYOB aspect is another plus. I disagree with other reviewers that food is overpriced as a result. In fact, I find Lucio's to be very reasonable; even more so because you're not paying outrageous mark-ups on wine.

• Pros: Great food; attentive, courteous staff; accomodating to special dietary needs
• Cons: Limited parking in front, but not a problem if you don't mind walking a little bit!

01/22/09

Best BYOB in Midtown!

by GGDance at Citysearch

I'm a regular at Lucio's and even when it was Annabelle's Diner....very conveniently located in the Midtown area. The owner, John, makes it a point to go around and visit the patrons. The waiter, Melvin, treats you like your family. The other parttime waiters, Cory and Jammer are very friendly and service is outstanding. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal there. The chef is very accommodating to your diets needs and will cook to please.

My favorite dish is the scallops and risotto and the bread pudding for dessert is absolutely delicious!

What I love about this place is Lucio's does not rush you in trying to turn tables, they allow you to enjoy your wine and visit. This place is great for a first date.

Lucio's is a five star restaurant to me!!

12/31/08

Average, Overpriced Restaurant

by KittyKat07 at Citysearch

My fiance and I ventured to Lucio's the first time several months ago and then a second time last month. We just moved to the area and decided to try it out. The BYOB is absolutely a fabulous concept

We are usually not too picky when we are eating out because we both worked in the food industry for a few years, and my fiance attended culinary school in Cambridge and started a successful personal chef business before moving back to Texas. We have sympathy.

Trip 1 - I ordered the jumbo scallops with risotto and asparagus, and my fiance ordered the duck. My scallops were pretty good and so was the risotto. I tried a bite of duck and it was chewy and tasted a bit like ham. The waiter informed us that they cook the duck more thoroughly and cut most of the skin off because that's how their customers prefer, but my fiance attended culinary school and advised me that duck was supposed to be cooked with the skin and slightly pink in the middle (almost like a tuna steak). My finance then ordered the pork chops, which were definitely better than the duck dish, but fair at best.

Trip 2 - Two appetizers - the lump crab dish and the artichoke dip. I was highly disappointed with the crab. It was served cold with sliced tomatoes. BLAND. I didn't even have a 2nd bite. The artichoke dip, however, was AMAZING. I think that is probably the best dish we've had there. The bread it was served with was great and the flavor profiles in the dip worked very well together. I ordered the fillet mignon, which was pretty decent. My finance ordered the spring veggie risotto. The dish was prepared incorrectly - the chef did not use arborio rice, which is standard for making risotto. My friend ordered a blend of pastas, which was pretty good.

Their biggest drawback is using mediocre ingredients and charging a high price for their plates. Their food is very overpriced for what you get. I think they are trying to make up the lack of liquor through higher food costs to the customer.

• Pros: BYOB, Choice of seating (sometimes)
• Cons: Limited menu, $$, serivce, tables are too close together

06/20/08

Our favorite place

by 002Girl at Citysearch

We've been going to Lucio's since they opened. Melvin & Jammer and the entire staff are so warm & friendly and they remember your name, making you feel that much more welcomed, like walking into your best friend's dining room. The food is really good, though there are alot of menu items that I have not tried yet, mainly because I just love my favorites and haven't ventured out too far. The juicy pork chop is awesome, wrapped in proscuitto & stuffed with duxelle (mushrooms), the grilled tuna & wasabi potatoes are another favorite. The steaks are good and the spinach & artichoke dip is hot and creamy served with fried pita bread. Give this place a try. They will gladly accommodate a crowd so grab your friends, your favorite wine and enjoy this place~

• Pros: Friendly and accommodating, varied menu, BYOB, great value
• Cons: Parking limited, no outdoor seating

01/18/08

Great Service, Great Food, Great Atmosphere

by akf1582 at Citysearch

I went to Lucio's a few months back with some friends and my bf. We had heard good things about it and had to give it a try. We honestly called probably ten minutes before we got there to make reservations and it was not a problem. Then, we arrived we were immediately seated. We sat down in a corner table and admired all the neat artwork. Great conversation piece. We got the menus, and honestly everything looked so good it was hard to decide. I ordered the crab cakes which were phenomenal, the ahi tuna and wasabi mashed potatoes which were amazing and my all time fav creme brulee. Best I have ever had seriously, and I have tasted a lot of them. I loved the fact we could bring our own wine because a lot of places you get overwelmed when looking for a wine and usually they are ridiculously priced. I love this place, the staff is so friendly and nice (hard to find in houstons these days) and all around 5 stars from me. I would go back in a heart beat and anytime my friends ask me for dinner ideas I say LUCIOS!!

Editorial Review by Andrea Loera

by Contributor at Citysearch

Midtown/Montrose-area grill provides hearty American cuisine and BYOB.

02/09/07

A Culinary Delight

by sunshine33 at Citysearch

My friend and I visited Lucio's for the first time, on a Thursday night. The place was full and we didn't have a reservation, but we were seated within 5 minutes. Aaron waited on us; he was attentive, friendly, and fun.

She and I both ordered the Ceasar salads for starters. I loved the extra large parmesan shavings. The dressing had a hint of anchovy but did not overpower. For our entrees we chose to keep it light. So I ordered the crab cakes in spicy cream sauce with lump crab meat, and she had the ceviche. Best crab cakes I've had anywhere in town. So tasty, I didn't feel like offering my friend a bite after saying I would. Oops! She scooped up her ceviche without looking my way either so I guess we're even!

After dinner, we had the chance to meet Brett Maesch, the chef. He's down to earth, hip, cool, and like Aaron ? just darling. Brett, we really enjoyed your food. Keep these fabulous vittles coming, so we can impress our other friends.

Marlene

02/01/07

Great menu, service, location, and value

by coog78 at Citysearch

The food here is excellent. The chef and owner are really personable and pleasant. I brought a medium-sized group here for my graduation dinner. We brought several bottles of wine that complemented the food well. I've been here a few times before and am always pleased every time. The soups are always great and I love the ahi tuna. Dessert should not be skipped either. You get the feel that you're in a neighborhood restaurant that is unknown to the outside world. The prices are great and the BYOB concept ensures you can really get anything you want and your bill won't hurt your wallet. Service is always very good and attentive. Keep it going Lucio's; excellent job!

• Pros: food, location, BYOB, service

11/19/06

Great food & service.

by vinoguy at Citysearch

Nice and clean place. Been there twice with group of 6, service has always been good. Owner and staff very personable.Food is excellent . Reasonably priced, great value. BYOB a big plus. Will recommend to all and visit again.