Last week, The Feast headed to the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff to see what David Uygur and his wife Jennifer have been working on in recent months. Lucia, named after their Corgi Lucy, will open this week. It'll feature "rustic Italian" fare with an emphasis on pastas and salumi. The menu consists of a traditional four-course meal—antipasto (starters like salumi, cheese and olives), primo (small portions of pasta or risotto), secondo (hearty entrees), and dolce (sweets). Most ingredients will be locally sourced and house-made. Full-size pastas will run at about $12, while entrees will set you back around $25. "The idea behind the pricing was to match the neighborhood," David said. "We're smack-dab in the middle."
The building dates back to the 1920s; all remnants of the small cafe that originally filled the space had vanished throughout the years, leaving them with a blank canvas. Wanting to stay true to the building's roots, they kept the original concrete floors and tin ceiling tiles and brought in antiques for a utilitarian, rustic vibe. "We wanted a restaurant that feels like you're coming to our house to eat," says Jennifer, referencing the distressed wood tables, comfy pillows, and myriad lamps brought in from their own living room. The walls are adorned with old travel posters, mirrors and antique cooking utensils. Bookshelves crafted from repurposed shiplap display David's favorite cookbooks, pottery made by Jennifer's mother, and a handful of quirky pigs they've collected throughout the years. [The Feast]
