Lucca Italian Sandwich Shop is a family-owned business co-founded by Sebastian and his mother, inspired by their frequent travels to Italy and a passion for authentic Italian food. Originally from Mexico, Sebastian and his family make multiple trips to Italy each year, carefully selecting the flavors and ingredients that define their concept. Their menu centers around high-quality focaccia-style sandwiches made with imported Italian meats, peppers, creams, and even coffee beans, creating an experience rooted in tradition and quality.
Since opening their first location a year and a half ago, Lucca has built a loyal following, with the Forenze classic Italian sandwich emerging as a customer favorite. As demand continues to grow, they are now preparing to expand to a second location in San Diego, continuing their vision of bringing true Italian sandwich culture to more customers.
From the start, Lucca has relied on TurboChef’s ECO oven to support their high-volume operation. They bake their focaccia in-house and use the ECO to reheat it to perfection in just 20 seconds, serving bread that tastes as if it just came fresh from the oven. This speed has been essential during peak hours, allowing them to maintain consistency while keeping up with heavy customer flow.
Sebastian chose TurboChef after seeing the oven in use at Starbucks, which reinforced his confidence in its reliability and performance. While the ECO did not replace any previous equipment, it quickly became a critical part of their workflow. Its ease of use has made training simple, allowing every team member to operate it with confidence and efficiency.
The ventless design of the ECO has also been a major advantage. It eliminated the need for a hood, helping Lucca save significantly on construction costs and navigate permitting with ease. In a space where square footage was limited, this flexibility proved invaluable, allowing them to maximize their layout without sacrificing performance.
As Lucca continues to grow, new ideas are already in motion. They plan to reintroduce bagels to the menu and are considering adding a TurboChef i3 at their next location, potentially dedicating one oven specifically for egg bagels to expand capacity and versatility.
For Sebastian, the TurboChef ECO represents more than just speed. It brings consistency, simplicity, and quality that aligns perfectly with Lucca’s commitment to authentic Italian flavor. His advice to other operators is clear: a good quality oven that is easy to use, easy to clean, and does not require a hood can make a real difference in both daily operations and long-term success.
