Chin Chin's Chris Lucas Is Opening Another Kong on Smith Street in Fitzroy
The acclaimed restaurateur is heading north.
Chris Lucas is bringing his Asian-style cuisine to Fitzroy. The man behind Chin Chin, Baby Pizza and Hawker Hall purchased the property at 229 Smith Street earlier in the year, and has now unveiled his plans to transform the former ANZ Bank building into a second iteration of his popular Richmond Asian joint, Kong.
Speaking to Concrete Playground, a spokesperson from the Lucas Group confirmed that the company would be taking over the venue around March, with the aim of opening towards the end of next year. Between this, their upcoming three story Japanese restaurant in Flinders Lane, and the launch of Chin Chin Sydney, it seems like they've got a busy year ahead of them.
The Smith Street Kong will be overseen by chefs Shaun Presland (ex-Sake) and Kitak Lee (ex-Momofuku). The pair have already taken charge of revamping Kong's Richmond menu, putting more focus on Japanese-style dishes such as tuna tataki and crispy sashimi shells.
According to the spokesperson, the new location will "carry along the Kong DNA," while also offering "more of a ramen-based, quick dining experience." The restaurant will also operate an all-day, late-night takeaway window on the Moore Street side.
As for the interior, the plan is for Kong to "fit into the local area" with "a bit of a Northside feel," although the spokesperson stressed that they were still in the early stages of planning. They're also keeping mum about the restaurant's capacity and opening hours, so stay tuned for more information as it drops.
Look for Kong at 229 Smith Street, Fitzroy towards the end of 2017. In the meantime, you can visit their original location at 599 Church Street, Richmond and stay up to date with new developments via Facebook.
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