Chances are your server is Italian or pronounces the dishes with an impeccable accent. The open kitchen is in the center of the restaurant, so you can see flames erupting from the grill and waiters slicing focaccia for the breadbaskets. Despite the hubbub, you'll be able to enjoy a quiet conversation at your comfy leather booth or window table. Carlucci serves large portions of dependable, standard Italian cuisine, although dishes can be a bit heavy on the olive oil. The bruschetta is almost always good, the portion large enough for sharing.
Pastas are consistently better than entrees.
Service is brisk, so you can enjoy a hearty meal without having to worry about being canned for overstaying your lunch hour. Cigar smokers are welcome in the bar. You can buy stogies from Carlucci's multidrawer humidor, or you can rent a drawer for your own personal stash. The dark, elegant design of the bar is enough to tempt a nonsmoker to take a puff just to hang out there. The restaurant has several rooms available for private parties, and holds special dinner events that center on wine or cigars.