Luxury Asian fusion restaurant nestled in Circular Quay, Sydney offers innovative and modern fine dining in a “very Sydney setting”.
Australian Good Food Guide winner Luna Lu (2024 and 2023) is hidden away in beautiful Campbells Cove and serves guests small and large plates, brightly colored dim sum and signature Peking duck.
Spacious, luxurious interiors offer wide views of the harbor and opera house and provide a dramatic backdrop for masterful Asian dishes such as black truffle duck spring rolls and savory lobster and king prawn wontons .
This creative Asian fusion style cuisine is led by Executive Chef Dario Nencioni, originally from Siena, Tuscany, who comes to Luna Lu after 15 years of experience – most recently at Commissary by Ormeggio in Mosman.
Dario spoke to FEMAIL about his respect for the “traditional flavors” of Asian cuisine while “artfully infusing them with elements of his Italian heritage.”
Luxury Asian fusion restaurant nestled in Circular Quay, Sydney offers innovative and modern fine dining in a “very Sydney setting”.
Australian Good Food Guide winner Luna Lu (2024 and 2023) is hidden away in beautiful Campbells Cove and serves guests small and large plates, brightly colored dim sum and signature Peking duck.
Nencioni hopes diners will enjoy the “beautiful balance” he and his team are trying to strike between Asian flavors and new surprises so people receive “the best of both the Eastern and Western worlds.”
“This merger creates a unique offering that surprises our customers and has earned us a chef’s hat,” he said.
The executive chef goes out of his way to ensure “fresh, locally sourced Australian ingredients” are in play “to elevate the entire dining experience”.
Luna Lu’s top five dishes are the ‘very popular’ seafood confit rice, the entire dim sum range ($20-$25), Luna Peking Duck ($58), Glacier Toothfish 51 ($60) and the edamame fried rice ($18). ).
Nencioni’s personal favorites are the Hiramasa Kingfisher Mosaic ($33) and the “elegant flavors” of the Wok-tossed Wagyu Beef Egg Noodles ($62).
views of the harbor and opera house and provide a dramatic backdrop to masterful and “exquisite” Asian dishes
Enjoy superb toothfish and eat under the stars in Luna Lu’s private dining dome
The meatballs are something else entirely, with each piece prepared daily with natural fruit and vegetable purees.
The result is brightly colored pouches that house elegant flavor combinations, making them as “captivating to the eye as they are delicious to the palate.”
Ravioli is so mouth-watering in part because of the wonderful dips that accompany it. Nencioni’s homemade sauce is made with brown sugar, soy sauce and a little ginger for added heat.
The dumplings – accompanied by two generous vegan options – are delicious and suitable for sharing,
Canton-style salmon ($65) is one of the popular dishes
The ravioli are prepared daily with natural fruit and vegetable purees.
The shrimp toast ($26), also available in a gluten-free version, is a standout menu item and one of the most talked about on social media.
“Our shrimp toasties are incredibly popular for several reasons. First, it is prepared daily, ensuring the highest quality and taste,” said Dario.
“What really sets our shrimp toast apart is the accompaniment of our beet mayonnaise. This bright pink condiment not only adds a unique and delicious flavor, but also enhances the visual appeal of the dish, making it as delicious to the eye as it is to the palate.
It’s not just about the food, with mixologist Kenny Le designing a “rich tapestry of drinks” that pairs perfectly with the plates.
Aside from the usual wines one might expect during any dining experience, Luna Lu also features Chinese yellow wine and Baijiu, a Chinese spirit best enjoyed in “small sips to spark conversation and spark ideas around cuisine refined.”
Luna Lu is open for lunch and dinner all week.
