Contemporary Australian restaurant Luci not only has a new Head Chef in Jason Lear, but also a brand new Spring menu.
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street welcomes Jason to the fold as he takes over the kitchen reins for Luci, cocktail lounge and bar The Douglas Club, as well as the hotel’s in-room dining offerings.
Celebrating Melbourne’s history of Italian immigrants and evolution into a cosmopolitan culinary city, Luci is housed within the grand hall of the historic Equity Chambers Building on Bourke Street.
Its art deco-style dining room – designed by Bates Smart – provides a sophisticated backdrop to the Mod Oz menu with Italian accents.
Working at notable restaurants such as Grossi Florentino, Café Di Stasio and Pilu at Freshwater, has perfectly positioned Jason to deliver Luci’s new Spring menu, which is a celebration of local Australian produce with dishes inspired by Melbourne’s vibrant Italian community.
"I’m delighted to be at Luci. It’s one of Melbourne’s most beautiful dining spaces and also a bit of a hidden gem,” he says. "I can’t wait for guests to come in and enjoy our new Spring menu where we are showcasing the best of the season – including a bruschetta with a Springtime twist, featuring broad beans, peas and chèvre.”
Other menu highlights include Yarra Valley quail, prosciutto, sage, radicchio and gnocchi all Romana and tortellini with roast duck, pancetta, pickled shimeji and fennel purée.
Luci offers à la carte dining, or the option to choose from two, eight-course Chef’s selection menus; think dishes like rosemary focaccia, arancini, polenta fritti, bruschetta, barbabietola, tortellini, agnello and Valrhona Manjari delice, from the first offering.
While the second menu plates up vegetarian alternatives including funghi with pickled mushrooms, orecchiette with asparagus, peas and pangrattato, slow-cooked cauliflower steak with native herbs and caramelised yoghurt purée and housemade sorbet to finish.
Luci’s front of house is led by Food and Beverage Manager, Marjorie Vieira along with expert wine pairings by in-house Sommelier, Keir Vanner.
The restaurant’s drinks list also features classic Italian cocktails, such as Limoncello Spritz and Negronis and a list of mocktails made with Lyre’s non-alcoholic spirits.
