Inside the hidden waterside nook serving up the ‘best Asian food in the Australia’ – as head chef reveals his genius secret ingredients and recipes
Sydney, a luxury Asian fusion restaurant located in Circular Quay, brings innovative and modern fine dining in a ‘very Sydney setting’.
Luna Luwinner of the Australian Good Food Guide (2024 and 2023), is hidden in beautiful Campbells Cove and serves small and large plates, brightly colored dim sum and signature Peking duck to guests.
The spacious and luxuriously appointed interior offers sweeping views of the harbor and Opera House, providing a suitably dramatic backdrop for masterful Asian dishes such as black truffle duck spring rolls and tasty lobster and prawn wontons.
This creative Asian fusion style cuisine is led by Chef Dario Nencioni, a native of Siena, Tuscany, who comes to Luna Lu with 15 years of experience – most recently at The 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.”
Sydney, a luxury Asian fusion restaurant located in Circular Quay, brings innovative and modern fine dining in a ‘very Sydney setting’
Australian Good Food Guide winner (2024 and 2023), Luna Lu is hidden in beautiful Campbells Cove, serving small and large plates, brightly colored dim sum and signature Peking Duck to guests
Nencioni hopes guests will appreciate the “beautiful balance” he and his team try to strike between Asian flavors and surprising new twists, so that people receive “the best of both the Eastern and Western worlds.”
“This merger creates a unique offering that surprises our guests and has earned us a chef’s hat,” he said.
The chef goes to great lengths to ensure ‘fresh, locally sourced Australian ingredients’ come into play and ‘take the whole dining experience to the next level’.
The top five dishes at Luna Lu are the ‘very popular’ seafood candied rice, the full range of dim sum ($20-$25), Beijing duck Luna style ($58), the glacier 51 tooth fish ($60) and edamame fried rice ($18 ). ).
Nencioni’s personal favorites are Hiramasa kingfish 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 suitably dramatic backdrop to masterful and ‘exquisite’ Asian cuisine
Enjoy the beautiful toothfish and eat under the stars in Luna Lu’s private dining dome
The dumplings are something completely different, with each piece made fresh daily with natural fruit and vegetable puree.
This results in bright, jewel-toned pouches that incorporate elegant flavor combinations, making them ‘captivating to the eyes and delectable to the taste buds’.
The dumplings are so tempting in part because of the delicious dipping sauces that accompany them. Nencioni’s homemade sauce is made from brown sugar, soy sauce and some ginger for extra spice.
The dumplings – with two generous vegan options – are delicious and suitable for sharing,
Canton-style salmon ($65) is one of the popular dishes
Dumplings are freshly prepared daily with natural fruit and vegetable puree
The shrimp toast ($26), which also comes in a gluten-free version, is a standout menu item and is one of the most talked about on social media.
‘Our shrimp toast is extremely popular for various reasons. First, it is made fresh daily, ensuring the highest quality and best taste,” Dario said.
‘What really sets our shrimp toast apart is the accompaniment of our beetroot mayo. This vibrant pink spice not only adds a unique and delicious flavor, but also enhances the visual appeal of the dish, making it as delicious to the eyes as it is to the palate.”
It’s not just about the food, though: mixologist Kenny Le designs a “rich tapestry of drinks” that perfectly complement the plates.
In addition to the usual wines you would expect at any gastronomic experience, Luna Lu also presents Chinese yellow wine and Baijiu – a Chinese spirit to be enjoyed in ‘small sips to spark conversation and spark ideas at tasty to eat’.
Luna Lu is open all week for lunch and dinner.
