You wouldn’t necessarily expect to find some of the island’s best Italian food in a shopping centre in Montego Bay — but that’s exactly where Lucca Italian Restaurant sits, quietly winning over everyone who walks through its doors.
Located in The Annex at Fairview Shopping Centre, Lucca is a Spanish-Jamaican-owned gem that takes Italian cooking seriously. Pastas are made fresh daily, sauces are prepared in-house, and ingredients come from local farms. The result is food that tastes the way Italian food is supposed to taste — real, warm, and deeply satisfying.
The salt fish arancini has become something of a signature dish: crispy fried rice balls with a briny, delicious salt fish centre — Italian technique, Jamaican soul. The quinoa Caesar salad surprises even the sceptics. The spaghetti carbonara is creamy and rich with chicken and bacon, and the pizzas — stone-baked with housemade sauce and fresh toppings — are worth the drive alone.
The restaurant also offers a unique pizza-making experience where guests can prepare their own pizza with the chef, adding a fun, interactive element that’s great for groups or couples.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff are genuinely hospitable, and the portions are generous. Lucca is the kind of hidden gem that regulars prefer to keep to themselves — but it’s too good not to share.