Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar

This place is awesome central. Quick note before I get into my commentary. If you’re a first timer - the entrance is a little funky to find. You think you found it on Google Maps but then you get there and it’s the back exit. You have to walk back up the block, turn onto the small street and then again turn right into a small alley called Oliver Ct. There you can signage for the entrance. Anyway, that said, this place is really special. modern asian fusion of various Asian culinary delights. The spicy shrimp and green papaya salad is phenomenal. The oysters with Lucy siracha were salty/spicy perfect little morsels. OMG the fried chicken with lemonade pickled radish bahnmi was epic. My husband ordered a seconds of the soft shell crab jianbing, it was that good! The mushroom and zucchini dumplings themselves were perfection, but that sauce put it right over the top into mind blowing. To top it off and cook the palate, get the Vietnamese coffee and fried donut desert. It’s probably the best desert I’ve had in Melbourne thus far. Drinks - we had a coconut margarita and a dirty dancing, but equally refreshing for cocktails. We had kitchen facing bar seats, super awesome to watch them prep, cook, and pump out food in record time. My hubby and I both agreed they could teach fast food joints a thing or 2, and this is an awesome upscale restaurant in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The staff is wonderful, the ambiance fantastic, and the whole experience just leaves you wanting more. Pro tip: make a reservation- this place fills up quickly and consistently, especially on the weekends. Super highly recommend!

Well this place certainly took me by surprise 😉 @lucyliumelbourne such a funky, buzzing place, with a lot of atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff. I had their drunk chicken, which was absolutely delicious and deceivingly filling. The chicken is a warm chicken.dish, so it can catch you by surprise when it comes out warm. 😋 But it was delicious 🤤

Food was absolutely lovely! Amazing service from the staff. Chefs have put in their heart and soul for each and every dish. Best restaurant in Melbourne!

I recently visited and shared a few dishes, and I have to say, each one was absolutely delicious. One standout for me was the Sweetcorn, Silken Tofu, Black Vinegar, and Chilli Oil ($18). It was packed with flavour, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did I highly recommend it! Another favorite was the Kingfish Sashimi, Green Nam Jim, Coconut & Thai Basil ($27). The combination of flavours was incredible. The staff were good, and the overall vibe was great, though the only downside was that the tables were a bit close together. Still, a wonderful experience overall.

I come to Lucy Liu once a year when my family is visiting. It’s always amazing. The food is just exceptional and the service is always on point. This time around we had the oysters, the silken tofu, prawn dumplings, and the market fish—which was snapper this time around. Definitely recommended. Thanks again!!

Cool music and vibe. Friendly efficient service. They really should put their story on their website because there is an obvious implication that Lucy Liu the actress would be connected somehow, though this is not the case. Had the 5 course Lucy's choice set menu. The beef salad, green curry chicken, chestnut and something dumplings, red tuna sashimi was delicious. The grilled fish was kinda tasteless though. The Vietnamese coffee ice cream parfait with tapioca was delicious. The super and sesame cocktails were great as well.

Beautiful food, flavours are punchy and delicious. Service is very professional. Chefs look relaxed and organised. Lucy Liu feed me menus are best value. Background soundtrack marries the complete package perfectly!

Absolutely sensational experience from start to finish.Service is present but never intrusive.Wait staff were more than helpful when I asked questions about the menu.Can't wait to come back!

The red-lit entrance at Lucy Liu is a great first impression for an exciting dining experience. I love Asian food. It's my favorite. Inside, the flavorful dishes steal the show. We sat at the chefs counter and I am obsessed with the chef yelling out instructions. So fun! The smoked salmon was perfectly tender tossed a salad, the scallop fried rice was indulgent and such a weakness of mine, and the barramundi and shrimp wontons were delicate and bursting with one of my favorite flavors of umami. This spot is all about bold flavors with an electric ambiance.

Of you want N experience in food this is the place you need to go. The sake os amazing not to mention the people that work there. They not only understand the flavors of this fine dinning experience they recommend the best! This is the best experience with food i have ever had. The cooks the wait staff i could never think of a more perfect place to eat. I Wanted To take them all home so i could bring that experience to every single person in the world that I know

Great Asian fusion food - both the betel leaf small bites (carmelized tofu and trout) were unique (to me) and amazing flavor bombs and the papaya and prawn noodle salad was tasty and filling. Staff was super helpful, giving friendly recommendations on the menu and how to eat the betel leaf dish. It was very fun to sit at the counter and watch the chefs work, you could tell they really cared about the tastes and presentation of their food.

The food is really goooood! I also like the little candle light on table. However, the serving was slow（really slow).

Very good Customer Service but food gave me gastro. The lighting was okay however there was no comfortable seating. I was quite angered by me having to goto the toilet every 2 seconds, I ended up just sitting there for an hour. Me and my husband were considering suing, lucky they were kind. Kind regards, Vishkuma Lady

This is a must restaurant if you are in the CBD area of Melbourne. Great vibe and unique flavored Asian dishes. One of the top restaurants we've been to on our recent trip there. The chef has a cookbook out too.

Cozy vibes, killer cocktails, and food that'll make your taste buds sing. Try the seared sea bass and chocolate lava cake - you won't regret it. Service is spot-on too. Five stars all the way!

Excellent food and fast service. The betel leaf tempura was amazing. We ordered some wontons in a delicious sauce and chicken ribs, everything was delightful. Keep it up!

Solid asian fusion place but some of the dishes are really spicy. The waiter said that the Thai chefs were in the kitchen that night so the dishes could be spicier than usual. Great ambience. The music has a bit of faster feel to it. People are super nice here. MUST GET: soft shell crab - this was hands down the best dish. Beautifully compared with texture and flavor combination. Don't over-drench on the sauce. A little bit on the side should be good. Naan - buttery. Crispy and flaky. Fantastic. SOLID: Papaya salad with calamari. Too spicy. Have to down a lot of water to just counter the spice. I liked the calamari but the flavor was overwhelmed by the papaya. SKIP: smashed cucumber: the cucumbers weren't crunchy. Like the szhechuan pepper flavor for this dish. Kingfish sashimi - a bit too acidic and spicy, even with the coconut cream. Didn't care for this dish even though other reviewers seem to like it a lot.

The best culinary experience I've had for many years. Attentive service, fabulous food and a very pleasant place to hang out. Love your work!

I really enjoyed both my meals at Lucy Liu (came with colleagues the first time and wanted to introduce my husband to Lucy Liu and their amazing soft shell crab jianbing). The food was delicious but I docked a star because their cooking was inconsistent and it sounds like even the servers acknowledge that. The first time I came, everything was super spicy which I enjoyed but my colleagues may not have. Second time I came, everything was kinda salty rather than spicy.

3 out of 5 dishes were excellent. Fried rice was too salty though and the Cauliflower dish wasn't to my taste. Serving sizes were generous and service was very good.

Dropped by for lunch and was seated at the bar facing the kitchen. I highly recommend sitting up here because watching the different plates come to life and being quality-checked before being served was amazing! I had the papaya salad, organic tofu tempura, duck dumplings and a delicious eggplant dish. All were wonderful but my favorite was the multi-texture and layered flavors of the papaya salad. Definitely going to come back to try more menu items.

Was seated promptly at a shared table despite the walk in which was most appreciated! Service for wage, drinks and dining was prompt and lovely; the server took her time to answer questions and walk us through the menu. Coming from NY, I'd anticipated a ton of flavor and pop given the rave reviews. And there were hints of greatness, but... my betel fried tempura were 3 very small pieces for the $16, Peking dumplings' sauce was unbalanced with fish sauce and trout salad (though she said it had rice, as I questioned being hungry" was very little despite the pop of Thai basil and coriander. Should I have gotten the Feed Me Menu, perhaps... but given the amazing flavor of Pastuso just round the bends, I would skip this one and wait in line next time.

Friday night and we had no reservation, but that's usually how I swing things. The host didn't seem to mind as there were bar seats available. To the bar seats I go, I don't mind this though. It gives me the chance if and when conversation runs dry to look at the kitchen working like a well oiled machine to put out these gorgeous looking plates. Not long after getting seated, I was explained the menu, and orders were placed. Sitting there, watching all of the food pop out, everything, and I do mean everything, looks delicious. They offer unlimited sparkling water for $5 each. Cocktails were on point. My partner ordered the Tokyo Drift. I had a double strength Dreamy Hiromi, I can just say that it left me quite in a happy place. The food: That soft shell pancake roll though. A crunchy chopped up soft shell crab wrapped together with fresh herbs of mint and maybe coriander all stuffed inside a very soft pillowy pancake. I'm still dreaming about the flavours and texture. Another stand out were the crispy pork buns. A fluffy steamed bun with that crispy pork skin and cut of meat with just the right amount of sauce. Yummm. I also had the Thai fish cakes, which I liked, but it wasn't a stand out compared to the other two dishes. We ended our meal with a Ginger Crème Brulee, light and sweet enough to fulfil our dessert cravings. Staff were more than amazing. We had two gentleman looking after us, checking in to see how things were going. And even though our visit here was under a time constraint, everything came quickly and we even managed to have time for dessert and drinks. I love the look of this place. It's very NYC meets Melbourne to bring you top notch Asian fusion meals in a buzzing atmosphere.

My colleague was working here for her second job and she always raved about the food and drink. I decided to pop in by myself one night and she ordered everything for me that she thought was best to try! This is a tapas style restaurant, very dim lighting and tight dining room. I found the bar area to be more quiet and romantic for dates. The drinks were on point and so delicious! The food was amazing and fresh made to order. I had the bao buns, soft shell pancake roll, dumplings and banana fritter ice-cream! A little expensive but very worth it for a group or dinner out!

We arrived at the restaurant without a reservation and waited only a couple minutes in the bar area. Once seated we reviewed the fairly small menu. I do consider myself a experienced foodie, but not much on the menu I was familiar with. I asked the waiter what was the most popular dish. He said the short ribs, so that is what I ordered. My brother, who is vegan also asked about what might be available for him. He was excited to find they were more than ready to accommodate his request with a chef special dinner called the Vegan Lucy. My short rib dinner was fall off the bone tender meat. The sauce was a little spicy, just the perfect amount of heat as not to over power the dish. Absolutely fabulous food, I highly recommend and would definitely come back. If I was looking for a complaint it would be we didn't have a reservation, therefore we were seated on a high top near the kitchen. The wooden stools are small, uncomfortable and bolted to the ground. Get a reservation and sit at one of the tables if possible. Loved it!!

I've tried so many Asian fusion restaurants around Melbourne, however Lucy Liu has got to be the best one yet. The food is both delicious and of such high quality. The customer service is top tier and the venue itself is unique with a great atmosphere. Not only that, the drinks menu is diverse with several different drink combinations, which are delicious. I always recommend this place to everyone I know. I will be coming back here!!

Everything was absolutely great. Highly recommended. Short rib was fall off the bone moist with amazing flavor. And topped off with the chocolate pave. Great music/atmosphere.

-Soft shell pancake is good, but can be better if they used a real Chinese pancake with scallions -King fisher sashimi is average, interesting with coconut foam.

Flinders Lane has a lot of really good restaurants, but Lucy Liu really stood out to me. I sat at the table/bar overlooking the chefs cooking which was mesmerizing to watch and happened to be a great spot for recommendations. One of the chefs gave me recommendations for what to order, and I was not disappointed. I order two dishes, the tempura soft shell crab and the barramundi and scampi dumplings, which was the perfect amount for one person. Both were amazing! The soft shell crab was on the spicier side so beware of that, but that was mostly from the greens on top which could be avoided if you don't like too much spice. Overall one of my favorite restaurants in Melbourne so far.

My friend and I had bookmarked this place and were thrilled to get the opportunity to get a table on a busy Saturday evening. We were told that it would be only a 2-3 minutes wait but ended up waiting quite a bit before we were granted tables at the bar or well in front of the kitchen. We sipped our drinks as we watched large lamb roasts come out of the oven, saw kitchen staff delicately fold pancakes, fry roti bread until it was crispy and fluffy, and maintain a certain sense of calmness as they quickly prepared orders. We were told to order 3 things from the left side of the menu and two large dishes from the right hand side. I reckon if you order the lamb, don't order anything else. We ordered three dishes but were told by the pushy waItress to get another dish. We had the following 1. Crispy duck in spicy hoisin - comes with pineapple, you get half a duck. Very filling. Quite sweet and sticky and it would help if they gave us sharper knives for this. Butter knives do nothing. 2. Soft shelled crab tempura salad - spicy with way too many betel leaves and not enough crab. But delicious. 3. Papaya salad with calamari - basically a thai somtum with calamari. Slightly spicy but very sweet. 4. Greens in oyster sauce - uber delicious with pieces of garlic. Very sweet Disbes have lots of herb, spice and sweet flavours. Service is very quick. Beautiful venue. Quite noisy. Wouldn't work for large groups unless you booked the space.

In Melbourne for work so was meeting a friend for dinner. Yelped our way around and found this place! Made a booking at 630 for 640 and was given 2 seats at the bar/kitchen area. Ambience is great - theme of red lighting through out. One of the chefs at the station saw us pondering at the menu and gave us a few suggestions, and we took them all on board! Ended up with the tofu, soft shell crab pancake, delicious dumplings and the pork belly bao. Would recommend all except the tofu - it looked great but would probably prefer to use my calories for something else! Spent about $73 for two, including a dessert of ginger creme brûlée $15. We aren't huge eaters - if we were hungrier we might have ordered another small plate. Quite enjoyed it and would be back :)

I had higher hopes for this place based on the reviews, but it was a bit of mixed bag. We got there around 4:30 on a Friday - absolutely not the "cool" time to eat but we were hungry so whatever. There were very few tables with people at them, but without a reservation only counter seats were available. Now, I usually enjoy watching the action in the kitchen, but in this case, it turned out to be a bad idea... I saw exactly how much food is NOT made to order. Given how early it was, we were understandably seeing a lot of prep work - tortillas being removed from their packaging (as they were purchased elsewhere), roti being cooked in bulk and stacked up to wait for an order, etc. Far too many things seemed to be "heat and serve" instead of being cooked from scratch. Everything is designed to share and will come out in random order. This is fine, though when you have one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian, its awkward when there's only a meat dish for an extended period of time. The spinach & watercress dumplings were described as "steamed" but were pan-fried like gyoza - not what I expected but they were delicious. We were warned that the "drunken chicken" is served room temp. While tasty, it was actually kind of cold and seemed like it would be even better hot. The sautéed asian greens were fine, though it seems like they are very fond of soy sauce and use it heavily. I love soy, but it just started to all taste the same after a while. The tempura'd vegetables were "fine" - definitely not the best tempura I've had. The breading was too heavy, pieces were soggy, and the sweet chili sauce was a weird choice. Despite being barraged with attention when we arrived (you don't have an assigned waiter, apparently - we had at least 6 different people helping us), it was impossible to get anyone's attention to order dessert so we didn't. After 15 minutes, we finally managed to flag someone down to get the check. It was $69 for 1 glass of wine, 2 small plates, 1 veg side and 1 "snack". All in all, I think there are better sots in Melbourne, given the hit-or-miss food, the loud ambiance and the uncomfortable stools.

Excellent original food. Good thoughtful service. Music is too loud (as usual) very lively place for a city lunch

We went on a Tuesday evening. The small neon sign is further down on Oliver Lane, which is located opposite the Chanel store. The friendly hostess seated us at a counter since we had no reservation and the restaurant and bar was packed with an energetic crowd. The server, who had worked there for 5 years, since the restaurant open, gave some guidance thru the menu, which was on the back of the placemat. We had the duck dumplings and the tender white meat chicken. We also ordered the rice (which came with pickled veggies ) and the tasty short rib with gravy. Finished dinner with a flat white coffee

Incredibly inventive Asian fusion in stylish settings. My group enjoyed several different small plates, and they all tasted phenomenal. Plus, presentation was mostly pleasing to the eye. We loved the cocktail Tokyo Drift! Definitely try it. The waiters were very helpful with suggestions on what to order. They also let members of our group pay individually. Highly recommended. We were fortunate to get in without reservations. Located near art alleyways, such as AC/DC Lane.

Biggest regret in my foodie life...taking so long to get to Lucy Lius! The dining space is amazing, large open space that provides the room you need to move while still feeling intimate and cozy. The menu is based on share plates...when isn't it these days...and has great variety for all types of food preferences. Our table of three enjoyed the shui mai and chicken ribs to start, followed by the pork and soft shell crab wraps, finishing with the rendang and the slow cooked lamb. Everything had fantastic flavour, but if pushed, the soft shell crab and rendang were my favourites. The only thing that let Lucy Liu down was the service - we were made to feel like numbers, not a group that was valued and encouraged to return, and this left a bad taste in our mouths.

Visiting from California and had a great time here. Entrance is down a little ally. They make awesome mixed drinks. Great vibe, kind of dark and hip. They have free coat check at the front. I could have done without the LOUD techno music playing. It would have earned a 5th star if they slowed the music down a bit. Maybe to soul, rnb or 90's hip hop. We shared the raw oysters, soft shell crab wraps, and steamed spinach and waterchestnut dumplings. Everything was great. Drinks were so good we ended up staying there and drinking instead of going to a bar since service, food and drinks were all top notch. It was my 40th birthday...they sent out a cake with a candle and then charged us full price for it. =( That and the crazy loud EDM made it a 4 star spot.

One of my best friends and I came here for a 'treat ourselves' meal and it definitely did not disappoint. I have always heard such good things about Lucy Lu and had to try it out for myself. When we asked our waitress what was her favorite thing on the menu she didn't just give us the typical most expensive item, she told us what her actual favorite was and recommended how we get it cooked as well as what we should get with it. This is extremely friendly and something she didn't have to do which we really appreciated.

Liu has lots of attitude and flavor to back it up. The atmosphere is hip. The wine list, and sommelier that interpret it, allow you to find perfect meal accompaniments.

My partner and I dined here after a long day of touring. As we decided to eat Asian, I chose this place as it seemed cool. Once we entered the restaurant, it seemed very hip. Sort of a vibe you get from a SF hipster restaurant. As we were eating late, they were able to seat us. My partner and I shared the following dishes, peking duck dumplings, the pork buns, drunken chicken, and papaya salad. Of all the dishes, the drunken chicken was the best. The other dishes tasted like asian fusion food you can get over in Hawaii. Not bad, but I guess, I was expecting something more exciting. I really did like the place and our server was great.

Great dinner in Melbourne this evening. Lucy Lui didn't disappoint with great food, excellent service, packaged in a lively Saturday evening atmosphere. Sitting at "the bar" watching everything up close and personnel in the kitchen, I tried the two house specialties suggested by my server, the kingfish sashimi and the soft shell crab pancake. Both were delicious with my only complaint being that the strength of lime flavor in the sashimi caught be off guard initially, however it grew on me as I finished the dish. My server was spot on for service; there when needed, kept sparking water filled, and wasn't a bother at all. In fact, as I paid my bill she suggested several other great restaurants in the area to try while here. Lucy Liu, I'll be back for sure!

The entry is through the back alley with a beautiful pink sign at the end of the long corridor. On a Thursday night about 7pm, it was packed and the wait was about 30 minutes compared to Chin Chin at over an hour. We waited at the bar area and started with beer and wine. After 30 minutes, we were seated for dinner. We ordered the soft shell crab tempura salad and the soft shell crab crepe. We added the Calamari papaya salad, King fish, the Barramundi fish, and the Lamb. The service staff was very nice from the moment we were greeted at the entry, to the bar, and at our dinner table til we left. Awesome service. The soft shell crab tempura salad did not have a taste we expected. However, the soft shell crab crepe was excellent in taste. The sauce in the Barramundi did not complement or help the taste of the overly cooked or dried out fish as if it was under a warmer too long. The King fish was excellent in taste of herbs and spices along with the tasty sauce. The Lamb meat was tender and delicious, but the sauce did not complement it as it was over powering to the flavor of the meat. I still enjoyed the Lamb meat. The Calamari papaya salad was excellent in taste and flavor. For dessert, we had the banana fritters with ice cream and it was satisfying.

So pumped to find a good place actually open on New Year's Day! Given that it's my birthday, I'm all too accustomed to disappointing meals at hotels, so this was a real treat. We had the 7-course tasting menu and dishes ranged from perfectly good to actually quite nice, although I wouldn't say there were any real stunners. Started with a tuna tartare served on a sesame cracker, then an apple-pork salad, corn fritters with sweet chili sauce, chicken dumplings, lamb bun with chili mayo, an asian slaw, crispy skin salmon with rice, and flank steak with papaya salad served as lettuce wraps. Anything with sauce stole the show (the salad and dumplings, in particular), and the lamb bun was also pretty great. Flavors were lovely although in some of the dishes could have been ramped up a bit (tartare, flank steak). They offered some delicious yuzu pastry bites at the end and we added an order of the Vietnamese coffee ice cream. The ice cream was outstanding, but would have preferred more ice cream and less whipped cream and fried dough. Ambiance is gorgeous - very sleek and hip, but still intimate and comfortable. Service was the true star of the meal - best service we've had in Melbourne so far! Pacing for the tasting menu was quite good and all the servers were attentive and knowledgeable. Thank you for allowing me a delicious lunch on a foodie's worst nightmare of a birthday!

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!!

Dined here recently with a pescatarian friend and we were very happy with the food and the service. We had sashimi, roasted cauliflower, cod and greens - everything was great. The staff were friendly and helpful, even with the noise - this place is constantly packed and pretty loud (I wouldn't say it was a great place for a first date). Would definitely return to try more of the delicious dishes.

Lucy Liu has been on my list for a long time and I am so happy to finally cross it off! I'll admit, despite the rave reviews, I kind of thought that a restaurant with this namesake would be anything less than impressive. Boy was I wrong! After waiting longer than anticipated to be seated on a busy Saturday night, (we didn't have a booking) we popped into the bar for a cocktail. I went with the aptly named Tokyo Drift and it was a nice twist on the Pisco sour. Then we were seated and the fun began! We were advised by our server to get several dishes which seemed like it might be too much, even though we were both hungry. After sitting at the bar overlooking the kitchen and taking in all the wonderful sights and smells, this was definitely the right choice. Starting with tempura soft shelled crab in a betel leaf salad and calamari with pickled papaya and hot mint salad, it was obvious that this was going to be a good-good night. There was a lot of heat packed in both dishes but the delicate flavours still shined through. The crunchy crab was delicious with the betel leaves and peanuts. The papaya salad paired well with the calamari, which was cooked tenderly. Then came the large main of crispy fried Sichuan duck along with the side of Asian greens prepared with garlic and chilli. The greens were cooked and garnished perfectly in a light hoisin sauce. The duck we watched as they pulled from the oven, rested and then sliced half the bird with beautiful, crispy skin. It was heaven! Lastly, with one more cocktail from the menu, a Negroni style drink just hit the spot. I couldn't find a flaw in their amazing menu and I can't wait for the next reason to return.

Get the steamed spinach dumplings. Get 'em!! And sit at the bar, it's fun to watch the chefs at work! I'm so glad we skipped the lines at Chin Chin and found this delight!

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

I love this place! It's very swanky and has an amazing scene. We went early with kids and it worked well but they don't have a kid menu so be prepared. Try the soft shell crab pancake, the chicken bun and the short ribs! Great service. Phenomenal!

Dining in the middle of winter on a Friday night in the CBD is often fun. Despite the weather and or the footy fans. This night wa no exception. The service was stellar, the mains and entreés tasty and delicious, sadly the deserts prevented me from a giving 5 stars otherwise it was a FANTASTIC night. I especially enjoyed the manger/owner's input who is it seems very hands on thank you for a fabulous night!

Loud, Bustling, Busy, Rushed. Thats what Lucy Lui felt like to me. If you're in a hurry - come here, because the waiters will literally drag you from the table to get you out of this place. If you want to take your time and enjoy your food and company, this is NOT the place. Translation - If your in your 20's - come here. If your 35 and over - Dont!

Just like its namesake, Lucy Liu is geared up and packing a mean punch. Lucy takes signature Melbourne elements with its tiny laneway entrance and Asian fusion cuisine, and adds its own twists that result in an all day dining and drinks venue. The experience starts right at the entrance, a narrow passageway off to one side of Oliver Lane lit solely by a glowing red neon sign spelling out the name. A door at the end opens up into a small greeting area before reaching the main dining area. The design takes on a large open dining hall style with a bar area to one end and the kitchen along one side. Wooden slats and panels adorn the walls and ceiling and combined with some large square concrete pillars the space mimics architecture and design found throughout southern China. Seating is a mixture of rows of small tables, communal benches and bar seating along the kitchen. Continuing the intricate details that make the venue, the menus are a single page spread with spectacular 3D hologram-style artwork on the back. The food menu is divided into a number of sections; Small Bites and Tastes, Dumplings and Buns, Plates, Larger, Sides and Sweets. Highlights include the Kingfish sashimi with green chilli, hot mint and toasted coconut, Barramundi and scampi dumplings with chilli, ginger and spring onion sauce, Sticky pork belly with palm sugar caramel, young coconut salad and red chilli and the Roasted beef shortrib with rendang curry, coconut, herbs and pickles. For those that can't decide, there is the option of a 5 course or 7 courses random tasting menu. There is very much a trend of chilli throughout most of the dishes, but it is used in moderation to provide a gentle warmth or tongue tingle rather than to set your mouth on fire. Individual spice tolerances may vary. Dessert options include a Ginger creme brûlée, Chocolate dulce de leche and Black sticky rice with coconut, jackfruit and sesame icecream. The full bar allows the offering of an extensive beer, wine and cocktails. Staff can also offer a wine matching with the dishes. Service is excellent with surprisingly few waitstaff for the number of tables, but it just works. Table wait times are also minimal courtesy of its secluded entrance. Melbourne has no shortage of Asian fusion cuisine and Lucy Liu manages to stand out with its quality menu and experience.

Awesome place! Great food and friendly staff. Tip: sit at the bar facing the kitchen and get tips from the chef himself.

Love this place! Had the express lunch to make things easy, $29 per head including a drink(alcoholic included).

Had a girls night out with a couple glasses of Veuve. LOVED that they sell it by the glass and not just the bottle as my girlfriends opted out of champagne. Ordered several small plates to share and couldn't even pick a favorite. Such a variety in flavor. The server was spot on in their recommendations!! And the atmosphere is just gorgeous.

I had been looking forward to having dinner at this place for some time. On Friday night I took my partner there on our date night and it did not disappoint. For dinner we chose the "Let Lucy decide" 5 plate option which consisted of 5 pre-selected dishes that were delicious. I particularly liked the kingfish salad option. The beef was really good too! The 5 dish did not include dessert. We ordered the Vietnamese coffee ice-cream with Chinese doughnuts....sooo good. Thanks to the waiter for suggesting this and the wine. A great experience.

Stopped here for a final drink after dinner at Coda. It capped the night nicely. Love the bright red lighted entrance. We happily sat at a table for a while fortified by the wonders of Laphroaig. The service was most polite and efficient and assisted us to solve several pressing local and national problems.