"Cristiano Tomei's one-star Lucca tasting room runs no fixed menu — pick a number of courses and hand the evening to the chef."
About L'Imbuto
L'Imbuto — ‘the funnel’ — is the Lucca restaurant of Cristiano Tomei, a self-taught chef who left a maritime career for the kitchen and won a Michelin star in 2014. It moved from the city's contemporary-art centre into the elegant Limonaia behind Palazzo Pfanner, facing the baroque gardens inside Lucca's walls. The premise is unusual: no fixed menu, no printed courses — you choose how many stages you want and surrender the rest.
It is the benchmark table in town. Compare the refined Tuscan cooking at All'Olivo, the historic Buca di Sant'Antonio and the elegant Ristorante Giglio, or browse the wider tasting-menu picks.
The Kitchen
Tomei cooks Tuscan terroir without boundaries — pure ingredients, spontaneous combinations, a known love of bitter notes and Parmigiano Reggiano, often together. The format is the point: you pick a route and a number of courses, from six to ten, and let the kitchen surprise you, with the chef explaining each plate as it lands. His enduring signature is the Bistecca Primitiva, a primal take on Tuscan beef.
This is occasion-grade dining: a five-course menu is €110, climbing as you add courses, with no a la carte. The deal is that you trade choice for the chef's reading of the day's best produce.
The Room
The setting matches the cooking's ambition: the Limonaia of Palazzo Pfanner, a restored historic space facing the palazzo's baroque gardens inside the city walls. The room is small and intimate, the service personal — Tomei works the floor as much as the pass — and the whole evening plays more like a guided performance than a conventional restaurant meal.
Not for
Not for fussy eaters or anyone who wants to choose each dish — there is no a la carte, you pick only the number of courses and the kitchen decides the rest.
Frequently Asked
What is L'Imbuto in Lucca known for?
It is Cristiano Tomei's one-Michelin-star restaurant, run on a no-fixed-menu tasting format where you choose six to ten surprise courses; the Bistecca Primitiva is his signature dish.
How does the menu at L'Imbuto work?
There is no a la carte and no printed menu: you pick how many courses you want, from six to ten, and the kitchen decides the dishes, with the chef explaining each plate.
How much does L'Imbuto cost?
It is occasion-grade: a five-course menu is €110, rising as you add courses up to ten, with optional wine pairings and no a la carte option.
When did L'Imbuto win its Michelin star?
Chef Cristiano Tomei earned the restaurant's Michelin star in 2014, and L'Imbuto has held one star since.
Where is L'Imbuto located?
Inside Lucca's walls, in the Limonaia behind Palazzo Pfanner, facing the palazzo's baroque gardens; the dining room is small, so booking ahead is essential.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at L'Imbuto
Book via the L'Imbuto website or by phone; the room is small and the tasting format means booking well ahead.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressVia della Quarquonia, Lucca (behind Palazzo Pfanner)
NeighbourhoodBehind the gardens of Palazzo Pfanner, inside the walls
CuisineModern Tuscan (tasting menu)
PriceFive-course menu €110; choose from six to ten courses, no a la carte
Dress CodeSmart elegant
SeatingSmall intimate dining room; tasting only, reservation required
ReservationReservation required; tasting format only, six to ten courses
