Lucy Liu

One of my favourite Melbourne restaurants. Great service and excellent food. The kingfish sashimi and soft shell crab pancakes are absolutely amazing!

I visited Melbourne last year and Lucy Liu is my favorite restaurant in the city. I would actually put it up as one of my top 5 places I’ve visited in 2015. Luckily I had my cousin who is a local chef take me around the city and he was definitely on point with this place. This restaurant gives off that exclusive feel and the dishes are incredible!
My party consisted of 3 Americans and 2 Australians and we entered the restaurant from a back alley and was greeted with a neon Lucy Liu sign upon entering the doors of the restaurant. With a party of 5 on a weekday after the lunch rush, we were seated quickly. It’s an open layout with a mix of wooden booths and tables around and an open kitchen. It has a hip Asian fusion vibe with a minimalistic touch, speakeasy environment.
When we got to our seats we looked at the menu and we were all unsure on how to order. Being newbies our server recommended we let Lucy choose, which the table has to all agree on having the kitchen choose our plates for us. We went with this route and it was a flat rate of $ 55 per person for 5 plates, but from my understanding the prices went up. We were all a bit hesitant but we promised each other that we would be open and try all that was given to us. And the cool thing too was that not everything that would be given to us would be on the current house menu, so it had a nice twist to it. Going with Lucy choosing for us, the server asked if there are any food allergies and luckily he did bring this up because there was a nut allergy in the party and they were able to cater to us. So when one by one the plates started to come out it may seem like they are small portions but don’t fret, they increase as each course came out. They start off with small bites, to dumplings, to a regular plate, and the larger portion dishes. Every dish that came out was 5 out of 5 stars in my book.
[Plate 1 — small bite] = Tuna, onion with soy & ginger on top of a fresh betel leaf was very tasty. It looked like a small portion but it was full of good flavor.
[Plate 2 — dumplings] = Peking duck dumplings were delicious. I’m a fan of peking duck so having that packed into a dumpling is delightful.
[Plate 3 — small plate] = The Green papaya salad was surprisingly addicting. I’m not a fan of salad or papaya at that, but the added beans, tomato, dried shrimps and hot chili had a unique combination and texture that I really enjoyed.
[Plate 4 — larger plate] = BBQ baby barramundi. For us Americans, we had no clue what it was but we were amazed with this fish dish. The barramundi didn’t have a fishy taste and the added mango salad and chili dressing was a nice touch the whole dish. They way it was BBQ’ed was great because there was a lot of fish meat to it.
[Plate 5 — larger plate] = Not listed on their menu we had a plate full of wagyu beef and they were very generous giving us 2 plates of it for the 5 of us. This finely cooked meat was a great concluding dish to our dining experience. The meat melted in your mouth that brought happy tingles for your taste buds!
Even though you may spend a little more to eat here, it’s definitely worth it. I’d recommend this place in a heartbeat.

Entered this place via a back lane, and along a fire escape tunnel. I wasn’t sure if it was open, so I checked my Unilocal app. Its a quiet back door entry. Sneak in and find yourself in Lucy Liu.
At early lunch today it was mostly empty. The staff were frantically preparing like there was no tomorrow. Perhaps they were expecting a crowd in the evening. There probably is a crowd here every night. Maybe there is no tomorrow.
The service was way over the top, like the waiters had enough energy to serve 50 people, but they just had me and a couple of old guys. So much energy! Took my choice of a seat, near the kitchen. Lots of staff there busy with food preparation.
My meal came out quick. I was slow to choose though. Its hard to tell the size of the dishes, and the style is made to share, typically with drinks like a Tapas bar. The theme is asian. I did get a clue from the waiter about what to order after one false start.
Stick to the left hand side of the menu for a sole diner. Choose maybe three items. Rice if you want, its a big serve. Choose a small plate, maybe a bun or a taster. I chose papaya salad and a chicken bun which wasn’t necessary with the rice. But I loved it.
The quality of the food here is very high. The rice was perfect, the papaya salad was satisfying and the chicken bun was delightful, sweet like a dessert. The quantity was perfect for me. Water was served up seamlessly.
This place has a style all of its own, and the staff live and breathe it. An amazing experience! A bit over the top for me just wanting a quiet lunch. The price is at the top end of this bracket. If you want a special experience, try this.

This restaurant reminds me of chinchin for its modern take on asian cuisine and interior design. Chic and classy. Private and sharing tables are available but it gets quiet busy so booking in advance is recommended. To me most of the dishes are really similar to chinchin but has it’s own unique twist on the flavours that make it different. Casual date night to catching up with friends, this is the perfect place to socialise

A very vibrant restaurant with a mix of modern and «Warehouse» décor. Service was impeccable. There were several servers catering to our needs. Seems like it is an“All hands on deck” approach which suits the busy staff, who were energetic, courteous and efficient.
We chose «Let Lucy Chose». She did Great — Oysters, Sashimi, Rice Balls, Beef Curry, Grilled Salmon and a Salad. All was very good. Our favourites were the Sashimi and the Beef.
For dessert I had the Chocolate Mouse with Strawberry Foam? OMG It was just Awesome.
Loved this place and will recommend AND Return!

Funky vibe with good service and great food. Share plates are the way to go and you can match the food with a great variety of beers, wines, cocktails and sake! Great for a casual catch up. Food came out fast and well spaced between dishes.

This place is great for a Saturday night out with friends. Food and atmosphere are fantastic. Highly recommend.

Loved the food and atmosphere. Truly great find but hated the fact that they kick you out the door after 1 hour so they can fill the seat for the next sitting. That spoilt what would have been a great evening!

I had heard that Lucy Liu was the new hot spot in Melbourne, but on this short trip over didn’t think to make a booking or even try knowing how busy it would be and knowing I hadn’t left enough time at all — despite all this when we were looking for dinner on a Saturday night, i saw the red neon sign beckoning me down the ally way and thought «hey, why not, let’s see if they’ve got any tables left!» and would you have guessed it they had ONE table left for 3! (Admittedly it was only for 1 hour but that worked perfectly for us.)
The décor is so cool; more smooth and less grungy/​hipster than other popular asian eateries Lucy Liu has a touch of elegance.
The staff are all very well informed, polite and efficient as well as having warm, friendly personalities. The drinks menu was substantial and although we didn’t have them the cocktails that were going out of the bar looked absolutely beautiful.
We had a number of small dishes to share. the stand out were the duck dumplings. Absolutely devine! Although portions were for 2, they kitchen altered to order to suit our table of 3 which was lovely. The quality of the food was absolutely outstanding and I will be making a booking for next time i am there so we can sit down and enjoy a number of courses — and highly recommend you make a booking too!

Right next door to our office and first time there a couple of weeks ago. The menu is hip and the place is rocking. We tried the share dishes and loved them especially the Bing (i think that’s what there called).
Ask the sommelier about his take on Sticky Wines his depth of knowledge was super impressive.
Would I go back… you bet

We got super lucky with Lucy Liu, trying to find a place for a quick bite before a show at the Regent Theatre. We had seen the line outside Chin Chin and decided to try our luck, on a Saturday night without a reservation.
The staff were really friendly and set us up with a table with at would be free for only an hour. We agreed to the terms and took a seat in the groovy venue with awesome lighting and tracks. The wine list had a good range of wines by the glass, and the service staff were very chatty and attentive.
We ordered four dishes between three people (including greens) and it was plenty. They did 1.5 size plates so we had enough for three (normally they are about enough for two).
We went by the waiter’s recommendations and had the Pork buns, the Peking duck dumplings and the drunken chicken as the main part of our meal and I cannot speak highly enough of the tasty, textured meal we had. I am only sad that it was over so quickly.
Will definitely come back, with a reservation next time!

We came here for a last meal before our flight back to Sydney, and it was amazing. Seriously, the food is insanely good. Really recommend the soft shelled crab pancake roll — so yum and great spicy hoisin sauce.
We shared around 5 of their smaller dishes, and didn’t feel the need for any of the larger dishes. They were all good. Didn’t go for the dumplings, but the kingfish was great. They have a really well stocked bar.
Staff are exemplary. They really cater to your needs and are friendly consistently through the night apart from the check in girl who seemed irked by something. The other staff, both bar and wait, more than made up for her. Go here. Eat well. Tumble down the road.

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.
What can I say about you, except for that I’m hooked.
I’d originally steered clear as I was told by a friend everything was quite spicy, but I gave it a go one night and haven’t looked back.
The staff are fabulous, and catered so well to my lack of ability to handle spice, I can’t speak highly enough of them.
The menu is set up generally to share, but it still works out for me to get mostly my own plates while everyone else shares in the chill dishes.
The Har Gao wasn’t the best I’ve had (sauce /​dressing was amazing, yuzu I think if I remember rightly from my first visit), but everything else has been completely spot on.
My first visit I had the ocean trout soba salad, and I’ve found my new death row dish. So light, so tangy, so flavoursome. I’ve even been back for just that on my own — and in and out within 20 mins.
Every time I’ve dined with others, the price has been really reasonable and we’ve left full — for around $ 50 each with minimal drinks, to $ 65 including a few more drinks.
Fun Fact (besides the fact it takes me less than 2 minutes to walk here from home): if you get a chance, sit at the kitchen at least once. Watch the chefs at work and marvel in how talented they are, and watch your food getting plated and cooked.

*Review incomplete
Melbourne just keeps expanding with these funky new places.
Cool vibe inside. Love the neon lighting.
Tables are a bit squished, but the décor is modern and relaxing.
Food was good with a modern spin on everything. The duck was yummy!
A little pricey. Not the best fusion restaurant in Melbourne, but still a good spot for date nights, and special occassions.

This place is hip and extremely popular. The foods on offer are delicious and packed full of flavour.
They pump out food really quickly, so when you book for a table at 6:15 and they ask you to be done by 7:45 it’s very achievable. Stuff like this doesn’t bother me as I’m naturally an in and out eater. But I can see this possibly being an issue for other people — understanding that you wanna be in this really nice place, take your time and just socially chat away without being time pressured. Particularly if you’re paying top dollar for the dishes.
Which brings me to another note. This place ain’t cheap. But I guess your paying for the taste! And I still think well worth it if you’re after a fancy night out.
Our assigned waitress was pretty so so. I’ve read so many good reviews on their attentiveness and all that but the girl wale had was just doing her bare minimum. Didn’t go above and beyond. Even asked my partner of he wanted a gin and tonic top up and he was only halfway through the glass.
Oh well, at least they have portable eftpos machines on hand!!! Oh an I looooove the placement menus. Super cool!
Come here at least once!

This place is simply amazing
Don’t be fooled this restaurant is not about the actress Lucy Liu, it’s about a fantastic dining experience of Asian Fusion
On this visit (yes there will be more!) we sampled the prawn dumplings, the barramundi and scampi dumplings, Peking duck dumplings, pork belly and wagyu beef. Yes I know that’s s lot but you have to understand, the food is just superb
There is a great story around how the restaurant was named and you will love the $ 2 dollar shop type 3d place mates from the Shanghai markets which also act as the menu.
Staff are very friendly and enjoy the easy visible kitchen and chefs at their best
I highly recommend you visit Lucy Liu and of course enjoy a Tsingtao beer to end the experience

Had lunch today with family
We had the crispy pork bun, shoft shell crab roll, wok tossed king prawns and the pork hock… The latter dish being the signature I think

The door staff seated us at the bar on a busy Friday night. Great drinks at the bar and really friendly bar staff. Cocktails were well mixed, wine list pretty extensive.
Seated overlooking the kitchen. First things first the space is awesome, you feel like you’re tucked away beneath the street and the place is genuinely pumping. The soft coloured wood adornments on the ceiling and exposed walls all flow together really cohesively.
That’s the good… The bad; it’s like Tetris trying to move in this place when it’s full. I’m a slim waisted fellow and had to move sideways while staff waited for me to walk along the length of the bar wedged between the bar seating and the middle tables. How the staff don’t go slowly insane having to navigate this I don’t know, kudos to them for holding it together.
The closeness aside the food was pretty good. Barramundi dumplings really good, as were the pork/​chicken ones. Steamed rolls with beef, cucumber, chilli filling delicious too. Betel leaf fresh and yum too. Tuna main was fresh, with decent cuts of meat. I’ve had much better from a couple of places within walking distance, won’t name.
Desert was fairly unimaginative; banana fritters bland with a scoop of coconut laced ice cream.
Markups on wine bordering on slightly overzealous but it’s expected at this price point. Good selection all up.
There’s a huge ‘in’ feel to this place. There was a few tables of people that were there to be seen more than anything else. Something I’ve never said in all my reviews. The staff were the opposite; down to earth, patient and really helpful in explaining the menu choices and best picks.
Lucy Liu was good, just not great — particularly when there’s options reasonably comparable price and cuisine wise doing most things better within a quick walk.

I had heard of Lucy Liu when it was just opened and have been meaning to get there earlier. I went tonight for the first time and am so happy I didn’t delay it any longer. The service was beyond expectation and the food was incredible. I enjoyed each dish we ordered and they even altered options to create a vegetarian option. The lucy liu wine was also a great choice from the menu with a Riesling like taste I would suggest this to those that love a white with dinner. Im not a big dessert person but seriously guys I suggest everyone try the Choclate Dulce De Leche with blood orange foam– this was perfect and so different. Great service, great atmosphere and perfect for sharing. 100% from me.

Lucy Liu joins the long list of compatriot dining venues along the burgeoning Flinders lane scene albeit a little removed. It’s located in Oliver lane, an offshoot of Flinders. Lucy Liu takes a modernist Asian fusion approach to their food. I was going to say dining as well, but how does one one dine in a «modernist Asian fusion» fashion? One simply dines.
Come to expect a sharing style arrangement for food and menu items. Again, a similar formula to many, the menu is divided into smaller and bigger items.
The menu is a good size; neither too short or too overwhelming long, weighed down by the burden of choice. Expect trippy 3-​D Hologrphic place mats and drink menus, but a nice inside, and a great drinks list to go with the food. Service is attentive but done in the casual vein and removed from the uppity toff style.
The barramundi dumplings are tasty and fresh, as are the pork styled gyoza that were on special of my time of visit. Oysters are available with a ponzu dressing, and nearly every small item apart from this comes with a green nim jam sauce. It is pretty tasty though. The kingfish sashimi is nice, though I’d have much preferred it with the foam only and not the roasted coconut shavings. Tempured soft shell crab is pretty good, and great for collecting extra flavours
With all these flavours and spice, I can definitely recommend the Emerrich Knoll Grunerveltiner from Wachu. It’s a little off dry, but good for the spices and punch of the food it’s combined with. For main dishes; the lamb shoulder is moorish and slightly more European and citrus glazed crispy duck are probably the best. If you want a more traditional china town approach, order the flounder and Asian greens. All in all great food, and fun service from the staff.