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.
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
