Chris Lucas opens new French restaurant Maison Batard in Melbourne

·

Influential restaurateur Chris Lucas has unveiled Maison Batard, a four-level French restaurant on Bourke Street in Melbourne.

According to The Australian, the venue combines fine dining with opulent design, including antique furnishings, French paintings, and a rooftop terrace. Its opening comes after an eight-year restoration of three heritage buildings, originally constructed in 1901. Lucas sees the project as a legacy endeavor, though he admits the costs have skyrocketed, partly due to inflation.

“The costs have blown out… but this is a legacy project for me,” Lucas shared with The Australian, noting he might never recoup his investment.

Maison Batard employs 500 staff, including 100 chefs, and operates seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The restaurant’s menu features French provincial cuisine with an Australian touch, highlighted by fresh bread paired with Normandy butter. A dessert trolley service has been introduced, boosting dessert orders from one-third to two-thirds of diners.

Photo: The Australian
Photo: The Australian

Lucas, who owns restaurants in Sydney and Canberra, says his passion for hospitality drives him despite challenges like rising costs and fluctuating spending. “I don’t have the luxury of another eight years for a project this complex,” he admits.

Reflecting on his journey, Lucas says, “My fate in life was to be a restaurateur,” adding that Maison Batard is about creating a cultural legacy for Melbourne.

Source: theaustralian.com

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Bouzouki Night 2025: A celebration of youth, culture and Hellenic pride in the Capital

It was a night of kefi in Canberra as 300 guests filled the Hellenic Club of Canberra for the Hellenic Youth Club’s Bouzouki Night 2025.

Cretan and Kalymnian youth in Sydney unite for a night of dance, music and kefi

The spirit of Greece came alive in Sydney as the Cretan Youth Association of Sydney and the Kalymnian Youth Society of NSW hosted Xoro.

Greek language attainment award, from yiayia’s kitchen to the classroom

The Greek Centre in Melbourne filled with pride and applause on Saturday, October 18 as the GCM honoured students of all ages.

Once a year, the future gathers at the Australian Hellenic War Memorial

Once a year, on an October spring morning, the Australian Hellenic War Memorial (AHWM) fills with the laughter of children.

Parliament House to host inaugural Women of the Greek Diaspora Forum

The Embassy of Greece in Australia will present the inaugural Women of the Greek Diaspora Forum, an exciting event.

You May Also Like

‘It’s okay to be different’: Nicky Panagiotou on raising a child with a disability

For Nicky Panagiotou, her daughter Doria is living proof that inclusive approaches to people with disabilities work.

Dionysus Theatre Company provides plenty of laughs with comedy ‘My Mother’s Pension’

The Dionysus Theatre Company has outdone itself with its latest comedy production, My Mother's Pension, making audiences laugh out loud.

Leaking roof delays reopening of the British Museum’s Parthenon gallery

Water seeping into the British Museum’s Greek Parthenon galleries from a leaky roof has delayed their reopening.