Overview
Chapel Street is going off right now. In the past couple of months, the strip scored Suzie Q, Windsor Wine Room and Inca — and now Chris Lucas (Chin Chin, Hawker Hall, Kisumé, Grill Americano, Society, Yakimono and Baby Pizza) is having a go. Come this September, his two-storey Japanese-inspired restaurant and sake bar Tombo Den will open next door to Lucas' own Hawker Hall.
This latest venue is inspired by Lucas' time living and working in Tokyo in the 90s, and will be a celebration of Japanese street food and izakaya culture. Head Chef Dan Chan (Supernormal and Michelin-starred Yardbird in Hong Kong) is spearheading the culinary offerings at Tombo Den, serving up dumplings, rice and noodle dishes, charcoal-barbecued seafood and meats, and sushi.
When it comes to sushi, you can expect a less-formal offering than you might find at, say, your usual Japanese fine-diner or omakase haunt. At Tombo Den, the team is strongly inspired by the food's more casual beginnings as a street food staple.
This more casual dining style is complemented by an approachable drinks lineup, which has been curated by Society's own Tokyo-born Master Sommelier Yuki Hirose.
Society is known for its encyclopedic drinks offering — often winning international wine list awards — but Tomo Den's bev offerings won't be quite as exhaustive. This isn't meant to be a fine-diner. The aim is for it to have a more laidback izakaya feel where you don't need a sommelier to guide you through the sakes, wines and cocktails.
With this in mind, the space has been designed to "transport diners from a gritty suburban storefront into an open-plan space with a moody, evocative aesthetic that nods to the city's endless labyrinth of late-night izakayas." LUCAS Restaurants venues are known for looking pretty damn cool, so we have high expectations for Tombo Den's look and feel.
Those wanting to party a little can also book the karaoke room or one of the private dining spaces found within the large two-storey venue. It looks to be another winning combo for Lucas, who's built up a hugely successful Australian restaurant empire.
Tombo Den is slated to open in September this year, and will be found at 100 Chapel Street, Windsor. For more details, you can check out the venue's website.