Luce Ristorante e Enoteca, a North Side Italian mainstay that has anchored Huebner Road since 2006, is winding down service after owner-chef Joe Buonincontri decided not to renew the restaurant’s lease. In a social media post shared yesterday, he told fans the dining room is expected to stay open through March 7, and thanked guests for nearly two decades of memories. With that, a 20-year run built on housemade pasta and a serious wine list is officially on the clock.
Owner cites lease decision and farewell timeline
As reported by MySA, Buonincontri wrote in his post that he decided not to renew the lease and expects to keep serving through March 7. The message, shared on Luce’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, doubles as a love letter to loyal diners, thanking them for years of support and the countless memories created in the cozy dining room.
Two decades of handmade pasta and wine
Buonincontri opened Luce in 2006 and, according to Luce's website, built its reputation on housemade pastas, hand-tossed pizzas and a deep wine list. Dishes like osso buco, arancini and cannoli helped turn the spot into a neighborhood staple on Huebner Road, the kind of place where regulars knew exactly what they were ordering before they sat down.
Calendar quirk and what comes next
MySA notes that the social media post lists the lease as ending April 31, a date that does not exist on any calendar, leaving March 7 as the clearest publicly shared last day of service. The outlet reports it has reached out to the restaurant for clarification and will update its coverage if Luce responds.
For regulars, the news means only a short window remains to squeeze in another plate of pasta or one more bottle from Luce’s wine list. Buonincontri has framed the closure as a straightforward choice not to renew the lease, while using his message to emphasize gratitude for two decades of community support.
