There’s no cuisine that I love more than Italian, and London certainly isn’t short of places to grab pizza and pasta. That doesn’t stop me being on a mission to try every single one, so when I heard about the all-day spot Luci bakery and restaurant that dishes out all of that Mediterranean goodness, I had to check it out.

This Covent Garden spot is known for its sizeable deli counter and takeaway pizza slices (which, spoiler alert, I will definitely be returning for), so you may be fooled into thinking that this is a pretty casual place to eat. But while the downstairs section of this enormous venue does indeed boast a relaxed daytime vibe that’s ideal for on-the-go lunches, you simply have to head up the staircase and you’ll find a decadent restaurant area, complete with colourful, old-fashioned posters, dainty lamps on each table and plush leather booths.

The Luci Covent Garden reviews don't lie, this spot is a real stunner.

A real highlight of our experience was the service here, as the waiters were not only extremely attentive but they provided us with helpful recommendations too. We kicked off our evening with a couple of cocktails, and being an Italian restaurant there were plenty of prosecco-based drinks to choose from. Our first choice was the limoncello spritz (£11.50), a punchy citrus blend that combined the fruity spirit with bubbles, soda water and fresh lemon juice to create a beautifully sour concoction. The second sip we tried was a classic bellini (£11.50), a simple drink that was made to perfection by the bar team.

The starters here are designed for sharing, though I wouldn’t judge anyone who wanted to keep one all to themselves, so we decided on the burrata Pugliese (£11.50) and freshly baked focaccia (£3.50) to dip in it – because what good is cheese without copious amounts of carbs on the side? This was a match made in heaven. The burrata was flavourful, creamy and had that satisfying pop when I cut it open, served chilled on a bed of sweet, pureed Delica pumpkin and drizzled in homemade pesto. Unfortunately, this topping was a little too nutty and overpowering for my liking, but the rest of the dish more than made up for it. As for the bread, it came in four huge slices which were flaky on the outside and deliciously fluffy on the inside, bursting with sea salt and served alongside olive oil and balsamic vinegar – dream combo.

Luci's restaurant menu brings a taste of Italy to the heart of London.

Next on the Luci menu, we moved onto our main courses. While I was strongly tempted by the pizzas, in the end I opted for the ravioli (£14). These tasty pasta bites were filled with creamed artichoke and coated with a sundried tomato sauce, with a sprinkling of chives to top it off. This had a very fresh flavour, while the sauce added a richness that really set the dish apart from other pastas. My partner settled on the tagliatelle (£13.50), which was served with an indulgent beef ragu and covered in a generous amount of Grana Padano cheese.

The pastas, though incredible, were relatively small, so our friendly waiter suggested that we pair them with some zucchini fritti (£5) on the side. These were thin, crispy slices of courgette, deep fried in a light, floury batter and served with fresh sprigs of mint – complementing my main dish perfectly.

Whatever you do, don't skip dessert.

Based on the success of our meal so far, it was impossible to leave without sampling some of their desserts. My selection was the trio gelato (£9) – which as the name suggests was three scoops of premium Italian-style ice cream. The flavours on offer were chocolate, hazelnut and pistachio – but (full disclosure) I am an unapologetic hazelnut hater, so I swapped that one for an extra scoop of the mouthwatering chocolate instead. My boyfriend went for the panna cotta (£6.50), which was smooth, gelatinous and topped with a pool of salted caramel sauce.

The DesignMyNight Digest

Luci really have nailed the all-day restaurant vibe, thanks to their two-floor system that combines a sophisticated eatery with a chilled bakery downstairs. This spot makes you feel like you're getting something a little more fancy without completely breaking the bank, while the flavours really do transport you to Italy. So if you find yourself in Covent Garden on the hunt for Mediterranean eats, I highly recommend you visit this destination.

Are you a fan of this Luci review? Then check out our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Covent Garden and sign up to our newsletter.