Our Formula: Love +
Passion = Flavor
From Humble Beginnings to Culinary Excellence
Lucia’s opened right in the peak of Covid-19 in November of 2020. With no dine-in allowed, Lucia’s launched as a ghost kitchen with take-out and delivery only. Continuing to fight through this difficult time a buzz was created on the quality of dishes that were offered. Lucia’s moved location and opened with a dine-in and an open kitchen model in November 2021, bringing rustic yet refined Italian dishes to the community.
Lucia’s open kitchen model operates differently than 99% of restaurants in America. You are dining right in the kitchen. Offering 10 chef counter seats where you chat it up with the Chef and watch every dish plated to perfection. The remaining 28- seats are tucked in so you can see the entire kitchen crew work. This is exactly what Chef Geno loves. A small intimate space where you feel as if you are a guest in his home for a Sunday dinner.
Chef Geno and his crew have taken the local dining experience to an entirely different level.
Meet the Chef
Our Founder
Geno McWilliams
Since his childhood, watching his Italian mother cook in Cicero, IL, Geno McWiiliams was destined to be a chef. After high school, Geno began to work in construction and married young. With the birth of his first child, it looked as though the chef’s dream would be put on hold for a while. Geno was the owner of MBK Construction specializing in restaurant construction as a national general contractor. While traveling the US building restaurants he continued to drill down on his cooking skills. Geno would travel with quite the arsenal of cooking tools from pizza ovens, grills, pots, pans, etc. He was asked to leave a hotel in Long Island, NY for cooking pizzas in a propane oven in his hotel room. Geno would also work for free in restaurants throughout the US just to learn while building.
After 23 years of construction, it was time to put his true passion to work and cook full-time. From the days of watching his mother cook Italian food, you could say pizza and pasta were in his blood. Geno would go on to open in November of 2020 and with a passion to provide the best pizza and pasta in Illinois, Geno was chosen to join the US Pizza Team in 2020 and continues to work with some of the best pizza makers in the world. Geno continues to be at the forefront of the culinary scene here at Lucia’s.
While crafting artisan pizza and hand crafted pasta dishes along with a few modern twists, he has taken Lucia’s to a destination dining experience in the heartland of America.
Customer Testimonials
We value every customer’s dining experience!
We shared a garden salad, deconstructed grilled cheese, carbonara, pepperoni pizza with hot honey and the chocolate cake. All was magnifico. We will definitely be back.
Trisha Kiwior
October 25, 2025
Absolutely loved the food…Alfredo was heavenly. Girls at the reception are really helpful. Will surely visit again when in Effingham.
Syed
October 9, 2025
We ordered pizzas, but they only come in 1 size and are pretty expensive for what you get. The food was good and servers were nice. Not a lot of options though and prices are high.
Jennifer Matthews
October 5, 2025
Amazing Food!
Tamara Martin
October 4, 2025
A lovely little gem! The atmosphere was pleasant and the staff were very helpful! Lastly, the food was delicious!! Highly recommend a visit even if you’re just passing through town!
Erin A
September 26, 2025
Food was amazing we had the pizza and Ceasar salad the home made sauces for the pizza and salad were so rich, so flavorful. The chef was so friendly and explained the roots of the restaurant. It was a great experience and amazing food.
L.J. Goheen
September 19, 2025
4.6 FROM OVER465 REVIEWS
Experience A Taste Of Italy At Lucia’s
Every visit to Lucia’s Italian Kitchen promises to be a memorable occasion for you and your loved ones.
