Overview
Located at 80 Collins Street, Lillian Brasserie is situated within Society — a multifaceted dining experience opened by renowned restaurateur Chris Lucas. The venue includes the Society Dining Room and Lounge, but it is Lillian, its French brasserie, which really sets this place apart.
The interior is all sweeps and curves, with private booths and fringed overhead lamps sending the eye this way and that as the highly skilled waiters weave in and around their guests without any fuss. In the evenings, with the lights dimmed and the conversation humming, the room gives off the air of a classic Parisian dining room — with all the frivolity and joie de vivre centred around the various dishes.
Lillian Brasserie's menu is heavily seafood focused, and begins with an offering of shucked oysters and prawns. The snacks include hand-cut potato chips and lobster and leek croquettes with a fresh herb emulsion. For an entree, try the cured salmon with house pickles and the burrata with pickled figs and walnuts. The pasta menu is vegetarian friendly with the parmesan gnocchi served with pumpkin, zucchini and ricotta being a huge hit. For a main, try the confit duck with cassoulet for a truly French offering, or the spiced pork sausage with smoked bacon and lentils for something a little heartier.
The woodfired grill is where Lillian Brasserie really flexes its muscles, and the grass-fed sirloin with pink pepper bordelaise is the pick of the menu. If you're looking to share with a few sides, look no further than the spice roasted whole crown of chicken, pairing it with some woodfire roasted greens and potato chips.
The wine list is impressive too, with over 10,000 bottles in the Society cellar. This is the kind of Melbourne French restaurant you visit when you're really looking to treat yourself.
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