Overview
This just in: Chris Lucas and his wife, Sarah, some of Melbourne's most successful and ambitious restaurateurs, have announced plans for their next venture, Wishbone. The Hong Kong-inspired eatery, slated to open in October 2026, will be an all-day venue channelling the energetic spirit of Hong Kong's food stalls and street food.
Wishbone will open on McKillop Street, forming part of the new 435 Bourke Street precinct in Melbourne's midtown. Lucas says, "Midtown is and has always been an incredibly important part of Melbourne's dining scene, and I think there's a real opportunity as we reimagine what it can be today."
Hong Kong-born chef Dan Chan (hailing from Lucas' Japanese diner Tombo Den) will take the lead in the kitchen, with his deeply personal connection to Hong Kong guiding the development of the menu. The close collaboration between Chan and Lucas is sure to deliver a dynamic menu that explores the street food dishes of Hong Kong, reimagined through a modern, evolving, Australian lens.
"The development of the menu is very close to my heart and draws on my time in Hong Kong, as well as broader travel. The food scene in Hong Kong has always been a brilliant, chaotic mix of influences — a bit eccentric, and a lot of fun. That's what I want people to feel when they eat at Wishbone," says Chan.
Designed by the Lucas' in collaboration with DKO Architecture, the space will be, as described by Sarah, "cinematic, seductive and textured." A rich red palette, retro furnishing, and layered lighting will be an alluring blend of Hong Kong-meets-Melbourne.
"There's a nostalgia to this part of town, I remember spending a lot of time eating at great places like the old Campari House on Hardware Lane, and having too many drinks at Mitre Tavern when I'd knock off from my first job. Wishbone is going to bring in the influence of Hong Kong street food, but ultimately it's about creating something that belongs to Melbourne's famed laneways."
Images: Supplied.
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