Michael Lambie’s latest lovely funks up Melbourne’s CBD scene with fun Asian-fusion fare in a buzzy open kitchen setting.
Melbourne’s passionate, ongoing love affair with Asian cuisine is no secret – it seems every local big gun is taking aim squarely at the myriad flavour-packed morsels popular across the continent’s street stalls and dining halls.
But even in a market as competitive as this one, you sit up and notice when a restaurateur of Michael Lambie’s (of The Smith and Circa fame) stature dips his toe in – namely with his vibey new Oliver Lane hang, Lucy Liu.
In the warm glow of the dramatic, raw stone and wood-lined space – inspired by Hong Kong’s bamboo scaffolding-clad buildings – Lambie delivers crowd-pleasing snack and share plates that draw inspiration from all corners of the territory, from Nippon-tinged tuna tataki with wasabi and sesame, and crispy Korean pork buns with spicy kimchi, to slow roasted lamb shoulder finished with Indian chilli dhal and cucumber relish. Pair with hot or cold sake, or a fresh, region-referencing nouveau-classic cocktail (mmm… coconut mojito) and you’ve got a gloriously ‘Strayan take on pan-tastic pan-Asian.
Lucy Liu, 23 Oliver Lane, CBD, Melbourne. +61 3 9639 5777, lucylius.com.au
