Sam & Luca Italian Bistro

Reviews

• BH

  Brad Hatch

  Sep 26, 2026
  4.0
  Ordered the chicken florentina, very good flavor. Nice creamy sauce the combination of flavors was very good. The rustica salad was good. The bread was the only disappointing part of the meal.
• RT

  Rose T

  Sep 23, 2026
  1.0
  Gave this place another chance as we ate here last year. Looks like most of the servers were new staff. Ordered meatballs as an appetizer. Meatballs were undercooked; cooked on the outside and pink/red on the inside. When we sent them back the server came back to say the cook said they were cooked correctly based on their thermometer. We ordered the $40 deal for 2; salad, pizza, and wine. We never got bread or butter to go with the salad. The server was busy replenishing bread at the tables near us but we were never offered until we asked for it AFTER we were done with the pizza. Pizza was all sauce and very BLAH. The meatballs came out at the very end AFTER we were done with our meal. Yes, you guessed it - burnt and rubbery. And no toasted bread or sauce!! No need to return to this place. Overpriced, food is mediocre at best, and service was bad.
• AD

  alexandra day

  Sep 21, 2026
  1.0
  One small piece of eggplant for my entree lol I wasn't in the mood to eat 80% pasta and the pasta doesn't even taste that good :( And I was charged an extra $5 for a second eggplant
• NC

  Nathan Cox

  Sep 13, 2026
  4.0
  A standout Italian dining experience in Mesa. The dining room is clean, modern, and welcoming, with charming Italian decor and an open kitchen that brings you right into the craft of the kitchen. The only aesthetic adjustment I would suggest is removing the wall-mounted televisions altogether; even when turned off, they feel out of place in a dining room this refined. Service: Top tier from start to finish. Our server was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. He guided my wife toward an exceptional white wine pairing, clearly explained the daily specials, kept glasses full without hovering, and cleared finished courses promptly. Antipasti: House Calamari: Scratch-kitchen execution at its finest. Light, crisp house breading with tender, properly cooked calamari—zero rubbery chew. Easily the best calamari I’ve had at a restaurant in years. Prosciutto & Melon Bruschetta: Crisp French bread layered with creamy mascarpone, savory prosciutto, fresh diced melon, and a delicate balsamic drizzle. The sweetness of the melon doesn’t just cut the saltiness of the cured pork; it balances it, with the mascarpone tying every element together. Primi & Secondi: Huntsman Pasta (Special): Rigatoni tossed in a light yet robust white sauce layered with garlic, tomato, onion, white wine, pork sausage, and wild boar (cinghiale). The sauce profile was balanced and deeply savory. The only flaw was the pasta itself: pulled about sixty seconds past true al dente. Not ruined, but noticeable against such a high-caliber sauce. Shrimp Risotto: The shrimp were executed with precision—great sear, deep color, and succulent texture. Flavor-wise, the risotto hit the mark, though the rice could have been worked just slightly longer to release more starch and achieve that classic, silky, all'onda creaminess. Dolce: House-Made Tiramisù: Masterclass execution. Not overly sweet, rich with deep espresso notes, perfectly layered, and easily the best tiramisù I have had outside of Italy. With just a couple of minor refinements on pasta cook times, this kitchen could easily compete for serious culinary awards. The Chef, culinary team and service team should be proud of what they are doing. Your passion shines. If I could make 1 request, please put some authentic Roman Italian dishes on your menu. Supplì(a shrimp supplì with your shrimp risotto would be amazing), Cacio e Pepe, authentic Carbonara, Porchetta, Carciofi alla Giudia(deep fried artichokes). Il gioiello Italiano nascosto di Mesa — Mesa’s hidden Italian gem.
• FH

  Frank Hawkins

  Sep 6, 2026
  5.0
  This is by far the best Italian restaurant we have been too. The food is absolutely amazing and very authentic which is hard to find in AZ. Our server Philip was awesome, attentive, comical and one of the best server I've come across in many years. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting exceptionally good Italian food.