At dinner time on a Friday night, the parking lot at Pizza Lucé overflows into the street. A mob of people huddle around the entrance waiting to reach the podium where they find a friendly hostess dressed in jeans and a rock inspired t-shirt ready to add their names to the lengthy list of waiting parties. The crowd of people all yearning for spot on the list is a testament to the high quality pizza and great service offered at Pizza Lucé.

Obviously known for its fresh in-house pizzas, Pizza Lucé offers an array of gourmet specialty pizzas. A fan favorite, the baked potato pizza, features pizza crust smothered buttery-garlic baby red mashed potatoes, and topped with broccoli, fresh diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of smoked apple hickory bacon served with a side of sour cream.

For the meat lovers, “The Bear” piles pepperoni, marinated chicken, ground beef, Canadian bacon, and homemade Italian sausage on top of one pizza. On the other hand the “Fresh Veggie,” one of Pizza Lucé’s many vegetarian choices, incorporates generous amounts of fresh diced tomatoes, mushrooms, green peppers, onion, and black olives with mozzarella cheese on red sauce.

For those with a creative spirit, Pizza Lucé offers the build-your-own pizza option. Guests choose from over 50 fresh and savory toppings including 11 types of cheese, 15 choices of meat, and over 25 vegetable options. The waiter places the hand-tossed hot on the pan masterpiece on top of an empty tomato sauce can to maximize table space.

Pizza Lucé’s menu also contains salads, consisting of fresh ingredients, plus both parmigiana and deli-style hoagies. Their mostaccioli––one of their most favored pasta dishes––includes a casserole of penne pasta baked in fresh tomato sauce blended with ricotta and parmesan cheeses topped with melted mozzarella cheese and served with garlic bread.

A popular appetizer, the brushetta, serves eight petite pieces of warm garlic bread topped with melted mozzarella cheese. The cheesy garlic bread goes well with the fresh diced tomatoes, basil, and paper-thin mozzarella cheese squares that accompany the dish. Upon finishing the last bite of bread, guests will often find themselves reaching for their glass to tame the unexpected spicy kick of the garlic.

Pizza Lucé accommodates vegetarian and vegan customers with fresh locally grown ingredients and cheese substitutes. Gluten intolerant customers enjoy with gluten free pizza crust and pastas. They can also satisfy a sweet tooth with a choice of one of the decadent desserts including tiramisu, cheesecake of the day, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Pizza Lucé has five locations in Minnesota, four of which are in the Twin Cities area. Sites are open as early as 7 a.m. until as late as 3:30 p.m., and most locations offer Sunday brunch until 2 p.m.; the Duluth and Hopkins locations offer weekday breakfast as well.

All Pizza Lucé locations also offer take-out and delivery of any menu item. If you find yourself craving your favorite dish but not craving the wait, customers can feel free to call in their order available for delivery or pick up.