CIUCCIO - Italian based kitchen & international food. is a restaurant in Lagos Centro, Lagos. Rated 4.9 stars from 1190 Google reviews. Known for handmade pasta that stops conversations and owner-led service that actually cares. Best for date night and special occasion dinner. Ranked #2 of 17 in Lagos Centro.
Rankings updated April 2026
CIUCCIO - Italian based kitchen & international food.
🥈Zone Ranking
Top 2 in Lagos Centro
in Lagos Centro
Holding steady
Quick Verdict
Yes. Reviewers describe handmade pasta that ranks among the best they've ever eaten, and staff attentive enough to find tables for walk-ins in a packed room.
Book ahead unless you're arriving before 6pm — reviewers note it's full by 8pm most nights and walk-ins get lucky only when there's a gap.
About CIUCCIO - Italian based kitchen & international food.
Ciuccio is a small Italian restaurant on Rua Soeiro da Costa in central Lagos run by owner Claudia, who's visibly passionate about what leaves the kitchen. You'll find a short menu built around handmade pasta and small plates — think burrata with pesto, ragu Bolognese, pasta alla Norma, and pistachio pesto pasta. The tiramisu arrives with a crunchy base that matters. Reviewers consistently mention the staff squeezing walk-ins into a full room without fuss, and the owner herself talking through the pasta-making process if you ask. It's cosy, fills up by 8pm most nights, and operates on a small-plates-then-pasta structure that feels deliberate rather than trendy. Most customers come back twice in the same trip.
What Stands Out
Handmade pasta that stops conversations
Reviewers call it 'the best pastas EVER' and 'probably the best noodles I've ever had'. The pistachio pesto pasta inspired multiple mentions of wanting to return for that dish alone. One reviewer noted the pasta texture was 'perfect' and prompted them to ask the owner about the making process.
Owner-led service that actually cares
Claudia (the owner) is named in reviews as 'running everything' and described as having 'palpable passion' when discussing how pasta is made. Staff are called 'phenomenal', 'super friendly', and 'incredibly accommodating' — including squeezing in walk-ins to a full room.
Tiramisu with structural integrity
Mentioned in 5 separate reviews as exceptional. One reviewer 'couldn't do anything but close my eyes' by the time they finished it. Another praised the 'crunchy bottom' specifically. One called it 'the best tiramisu ever'.
What Customers Say
15th Anniversary dinner while in Lagos So thankful hubby found this place while on vacation.
A great small plates menu, followed by a small menu of fresh homemade pastas, with delicious sauces.
Great customer service and amazing atmosphere Ordered the ragu, salmon, cheesecake and tiramisu.
Real quotes from Google Reviews
Practical Information
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Frequently Asked Questions about CIUCCIO - Italian based kitchen & international food.
Yes. Reviewers consistently recommend booking ahead — the restaurant fills by 8pm and walk-ins get lucky only if there's a gap. You can call to reserve for the same evening if you're flexible, but don't count on it.
The pistachio pesto pasta. It's mentioned across multiple reviews as a reason to return alone, with one German reviewer calling it 'probably the best noodles I've ever had'. The ragu Bolognese and pasta alla Norma are also standouts.
Yes. Reviewers who eat vegetarian specifically praised the vegetarian options — one called them 'very flavourful', another mentioned the pistachio pesto pasta and beet carpaccio as excellent vegetarian choices.
Cosy, full, and friendly. Reviewers describe it as 'very well visited', with staff that make you feel special even when they're packed. One reviewer spent their 21st birthday here and felt 'so special' — the team took a shot with them.
The tiramisu. It's mentioned in 5 reviews as exceptional — lighter and fluffier than most, with a crunchy bottom. The Basque cheesecake is also praised as 'lighter and fluffier than most'.
Also in Lagos Centro
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