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When The Lucky Well announced they were turning their giant BBQ spot on Spring Garden into a four-in-one restaurant with a rotating line-up of chefs sharing one menu, we were skeptical. Having multiple concepts under one roof usually means diners are in for a lackluster food hall experience, or a cardboard slice from Sbarro and some sesame chicken at the mall food court. But Lucky Well Incubator proves that the flexible, multi-cuisine model can be fun and useful, especially when you're trying to feed a group.
The best part of The Lucky Well's shared kitchen is that you can Frankenstein a meal together with Navajo tacos, rigatoni sausage ragu, St. Louis ribs, and wood-fired Vietnamese shrimp. In the past, we've eaten straightforward dishes even picky people would love—grilled pork chops or cloud-like frybread topped with chili beans—as well as sweet corn mochi skewers and cheesy jalapeno sausages that kept the menu feeling unexpected.
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
The Lucky Well's versatility means you can bring all sorts of people. The space has the laid-backness and set-up of an industrial brewery, with long communal tables and Kings of Leon blasting through the speakers. When the Sixers score, the people at the bar will probably cheer and order a round of $6 Citywides, while the post-work crowd drinks basil lemon drops and talks sh*t over pasta and pork belly burnt ends.
There are some downsides to the pop-up palooza. Each chef only contributes six-ish items to the shared menu. So if you like one concept more than the others, your options are pretty limited. And, don't get too attached to any of the cuisines, except for Lucky Well's BBQ. The rest of the line-up changes every six months.
Still, The Lucky Well is dependable and fun no matter who is cooking. Come to mix and match your dinner like you’re at an adult cafeteria. Unlike the mall food court, there won't be Mountain Dew-soaked floors and we're almost sure Sbarro is never making an appearance.
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Food Rundown
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Rigatoni Sausage Ragu
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Penne a la Vodka
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Gà Nướng with Fried Egg
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Nướng Tom Nướng
photo credit: GAB BONGHI
Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends
photo credit: The Lucky Well - Incubator
House Smoked Jalapeño Sausages
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Carne Adovada Navajo Taco
photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO
Sweet Frybread