Often hailed as the premier Italian restaurant in the area, Luca West elevates classic Italian cuisine with a sophisticated touch, offering an elegant yet welcoming ambiance perfect for any occasion.
From the moment you step inside, you’re transported to a world of refined flavors and impeccable service. Owner Luca Sema and his team craft exquisite dishes using fresh, high-quality ingredients, resulting in a menu that is both authentic and innovative.
“I make the recipes myself,” says Sema. “I think about dishes when I go to food shows in Milan and Chicago and New York — it’s always on my mind how to create new dishes.”
New this season is the Frutti di Mare, Sema’s take on transforming a traditionally heavy entree and making it lighter and fresher for summertime.
Pasta. | The base of the dish is a generous serving of linguine, a thin, flat-strand pasta, well-suited for holding sauces and mingling with seafood. Its subtle starchiness offers a perfect blank canvas for other ingredients to shine.
Seafood. | Complex and layered tastes of the sea prevent any single flavor from dominating the dish, making each bite interesting. Shrimps provide a sweet, mild and succulent flavor with a firm texture, while clams contribute a distinctly briny taste and slight chewiness. Crab introduces a rich, sweet and slightly buttery flavor and tender, flaky meat.
Sauce. | A delicate liquid that beautifully coats the pasta and amplifies the natural flavors of the seafood form the backbone of this dish’s aroma and savory notes. Extra virgin olive oil brings a rich taste and luxurious texture, while the pinot grigio’s acidity keeps the meal light and bright. The warmth of garlic, sweet earthiness of basil and sharp freshness of parsley provide constant contrast.
Perfect Pairings. | This seafood pasta dish forms the heart of a truly memorable meal. Consider these thoughtful pairings. As an appetizer, Sema suggests the Burrata Caprese, featuring fresh summery flavors that won’t overwhelm the palate. During dinner, opt for a light-bodied and acidic white wine. For dessert, a refreshing gelato provides a cooling, satisfying finish.
24600 Detroit Road, Westlake, 216-201-9600, lucawest.com
