Review Lume - Melbourne

Great food, good service, awesome vibe, definitely had a great night here. Love the “forest” concept of the new seasonal menu, using pine mushroom, abalone, dry aged duck etc good stuff to bring the taste of autumn forest. The duck is amazing, just hoping the size of the dish can be bigger. Would highly recommend the experience for catching up with close friends or going for a date with loved one.

Beautiful restaurant, with delicious food full of flavours. The abalone and John Dory were the stars for me - both perfectly cooked and wonderfully balanced plates. Really enjoyed the flavour and texture combinations of the wagyu and celeriac, and the duck with cherries. Not sure I necessarily understood the heirloom tomatoes or the sorbet dish. The food was all beautifully presented (absolutely in love with the crockery) although there wasn’t any particular wow factor. Would suggest there’s value in replacing the cheap plastic doors in the bathroom - it detracts from the fine dining experience.

I've never been a "foodie" but the food here has changed that. I've had two of the menus (the plantbased Ecosystems menu and the plantbased Autumn Harvest menu) and both were mindblowingly beautiful. The flavour combinations were so unexpected and yet every meal is expertly brought together. My absolute favourite dish from the most recent menu was the burnt celeriac, which I didn't expect at all! The presentation is stunning, the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and the cocktails are delicious! I definitely recommend coming here.

Had a wonderful night with my friends tasting their new menu. Abalone is definitely a must-order dish if you come. Their cocktail and mocktail drinks are amazingly good as well.

We selected Lûmé for their degustation menu. We wanted to try something special, but not get offal and ants etc in every other course. This menu was sensational. Every dish a delight, the wine pairing was superb but the knowledgeable and attentive service from Alex really made our evening an event. Thank you for a fabulous evening.

Spent the whole night on the tasting menu with wine pairing and it was an excellent experience! Alex the Som was a great addition so you must get the wine pairing. The new chef started 2 months agi and is absolutely crushing it. Was so excited to eat the waygu I forgot to take a picture. Highly recommend visiting when in town or for special occaision. Cant imagine anywhere better in this city.

We were sitting in the atrium. The tables were nicely spaced out so felt very private. I personally prefer more ambience so unfortunately it came across more casual than fine dining. The food itself was really tasty and beautifully presented as you can see from the photos, however we were starving afterwards and both had to go and get more food. For the cost we expected more food than what we got. It was really a morsel of food for each dish and nowhere near enough for the amount of alcohol they offer for the wine pairing. I found this a bit irresponsible of the restaurant. I also left very disappointed that they didn't print a wine pairing list rather than having to ask the waiter what it is, where it's from etc etc. We would not return again purely because it's not at all value for money. We have been to several top restaurants in Melb at this price bracket with the tasting menu and we were never left feeling like this. A huge disappointment. The waiters were nice when the food was served but the younger ones basically ignored us and we had to walk around to find someone to order a coffee after the meal was finished (they only do filter not even a cappucino!) and then same again we had to try to wave at someone to get the bill.

This is the second time I've been to this fantastic venue. We visited last night and once again were not disappointed. The service and staff were welcoming, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We brought our 2 year old with us and although no high chairs at the venue, the staff were very helpful with providing a wider chair so we could set up our portable high chair. The food was incredible, Lume more than delivers in this regard. My wife and I had the tasting menu and the Dory with the milk bun was literally phenomenal, the abalone was cooked to perfection, the duck was probably the best we've ever had and the olive oil ice cream was truly outstanding. I am running out of adjectives. The Plum cocktail is worthy of a special mention - I've not had anything even close in flavor profile. Our only negative comment about our experience is that although plentiful in terms of variety, the tasting menu was not the most filling we have had. For $300 pp, we both thought it was lacking in that regard only. Of course, purely subjective, so take that for what it's worth. We will definitely return. A big thank you to the chefs and the staff.

My husband and I were lucky enough to be gifted “the road and pairing” a 14 course food and wine pairing. Amazing! The food was delicious, each dish was a delicate combination of flavours, perfect portions being that there were 14 of them!, and works of art. I’m not going to say which was my favourite because even dishes that may not have appealed to my palate I still enjoyed immensely. The service staff ( Dan looked after us for most of the night, thank you) were fabulous, friendly attentive and very well versed in all of the food and wine offered. Dan gave us plenty of breaks between courses so we could really appreciate every course, and was very generous with his time in talking us through each dish. The wine pairing was a treat, again some wines not to my palate but loved the experience of trying them all and our sommelier Orlando was just a wealth of knowledge. The venue is lovely, not too stuffy like some fine dining can be, lots of action and chatter from the kitchen , which I love but surprisingly not too noisy you couldn’t hear yourself talk. Thank you Lume you are now my #1 !

Seriously, the best meal I've ever had. Service was incredible, cocktails and wine were perfect; courses came quickly but were not rushed. The chef and staff were kind and welcoming, not at all pretentious, though it is clearly a fine dining experience. Definitely worth a visit!

Unassuming little place from the front which then opens up into a beautiful well lit and delightful interior. We had the 5 course degustation lunch and the food was divine!! Perfect portion size and good variety of dishes cooked to perfection! Could not fault our dining experience and will be more than happy to recommend to friends.

Amazing food - the whole experience is worth every cent ! Am so glad we went and thank you all for the outstanding service and some of the most amazing food I have ever eaten

Loved the space the atmosphere the knowledgeable staff. The food was a stand out the best we’ve ever eaten, it’s an experience. We will definitely be back with friends.

One of the best restaurant in Melbourne. Wonderful meal experience and excellent service. I love this place.

With its number 1 rating expectations are high. Every aspect of this experience was wonderful. The space is calm & luxurious, the open kitchen was pure theatre, staff are knowledgeable and provide exceptional service. My only regret is the food, we were cautious and only ordered 5 courses, not that I could have eaten much more, but I missed out on another 5 fabulous surprises. Definitely order matched drinks, even the mocktail matches were a remarkable experience. Definitely heading back soon to experience the remaining dishes and looking forward to seasonal changes

The best service and amazing dishes. Wine was matched perfectly and I felt very special on my birthday. Thank you to the head Chef and the amazing floor staff for making my day! �

Lisa and I had our second visit to Lume recently. Having enjoyed the magnificent full degustation experience earlier this year, chose the 5 course option after a busy conference week. Great service, food and an overall top notch dining experience. Enthralling to watch the kitchen magic, excellent front of house staff and a chat with Shaun at the end of the night to round out the evening. If you are looking for a first class dining experience that pushes the boundaries then Lume is highly recommended.

Amazing staff & meal. Always opt for the beverage pairing, its definitely worth it!

Comfortable with no pretensions. Just excellent food served by excellent staff. The chef bends over backwards to make sure what he creates for you is what you want: don't like or can't eat something? He can swap it for something that works just as well.

Last night we went to Lume on a recommendation from friends to celebrate my husbands birthday. The whole evening was AMAZING, a real gastronomic experience throughout! From the service, to the food, to the drink to even using the bathrooms it was memorable! #lovedit #uniquediningexperience

Great food excellent service I highly recommend it ! Amazing experience thank you

I dine out a lot & went to Lume with very high expectations only to have them completely exceeded! Incredible pre-drinks with friendly staff, beautiful decor & stunning food made for a memorable evening - will be back again & again!

One of the best fine dining experience in Melbourne has to be at Lume. From the gorgeous interior, to the exquisite service, and finally the amazing food, it's impossible to fault anything here.<br/><br/>Some highlights from the degustation menu includes the pipies and mussels - fresh and bright flavours, the perfect way to start the meal, and the Murray cod with its silky flesh and paired with a bold, tangy and deeply savoury broth made of dessert lime. The venison and partridge were cooked to perfection - both succulent and beautifully seasoned.<br/><br/>We chose to add on the house made charchuteria plate with smoky cured meats, and piquant cured seafood, and of course the famous 'magnum'. I strongly suggest you get one for each diner becuase sharing is definitely out of the question. Rich dark chocolate, crunchy bunya nuts and creamy ice cream - this was out of this world.<br/><br/>The cocktail and mocktail were just as unforgettable as the meal. We loved the kaffir mocktail so much that we just had to get one to go. It tastes just like Yakult, but much more tangy and full flavoured.<br/><br/>With a focus on Australian native ingredients, dining here is not only a delicious experience but also an eye-opening one. One of the best meal I've ever had, and I recommend everyone to come experience it for yourself.

Lûmé is located close to the iconic South Melbourne Market. It has an unassuming, classic Victorian terrace frontage and subtle signage. This is a stellar establishment that I wish we had found sooner.<br/><br/>For a limited time during the pandemic, we had the opportunity to take away a sharing set menu for two, and got creative with pairing each course with wine of our choosing. The food was so excellent and value for money, I'm certain we will soon be back for their degustation menus.<br/><br/>The marlin "steak tartare" was balance on a plate that I could eat every day: rich, meaty fish with a hint of tingly spice and acidity. The bunya nuts added a layer of texture, although I wondered if it could have more crunch if more thoroughly roasted.<br/><br/>The BBQ wagyu beef was great for its smokey flavour and juiciness, although a tad underdone presumably so we could warm it up ourselves at home in the oven. The sides were stellar, especially the beach herb "kimchi".<br/><br/>In my opinion, the BBQ spatchcock chicken overshadowed the beef main with its subtle flavour, perfect cooking with crisp skin, and buttery richness of its sides. Even better when taken with a lightly chilled chardonnay we had chosen to pair with this dish.<br/><br/>Dessert was a trifle light on flavour (no pun intended) much to my surprise, and was unexpectedly overpowered by our dessert wine. Taken on its own however, the lilly pilly and lemon verbena white chocolate trifle was a refreshing move away from the rather heavy beef main.<br/><br/>We had sufficient leftover for a small meal the next day, quite a bonus. Fab food, and would certainly eat again!<br/><br/>Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars

This was an incredibly underwhelming experience for us.<br/>We have been to quite a number of Melbourne’s great restaurants, including for 5 or 7 course degustation/tasting menus and have never walked away as disappointed as we were last Saturday night.<br/>We had been very keen to try Lûmé and were looking forward to it. The food lacked balance and flavour and some courses were almost inedible – particularly the ginseng and seaweed broth with bitter citrus – this was completely off – I gave mine to my husband who only ate it because he was so hungry – no one at the table enjoyed it.<br/>The servings were incredibly small and the Wagyu in particular was disappointing not only in size but my small slice was tough.<br/>We have never seen bread and butter provided as a course anywhere else, and as this was the only thing that filled us up we did welcome it but felt duded in the process.<br/>The final blow for us was being asked to pay an additional $30 per head for one additional matching wine because we had a seven course menu – which the waiter tried to tell us was being ‘phased out’ (in fact this was the only time we clearly heard her speak during the night – she was very softly spoken for the rest of the evening). This was a complete rip off and really put the ‘icing on the cake’ for a very poor experience for us. We decided to just have water with the crab course – which was probably the best idea as there was very little crab in the dish.<br/>We left hungry and very disappointed. We had planned this dinner as a special family celebration with our daughter and her fiancé who had flown in from New York for Christmas – it will be memorable only to the extent that it made us reminisce on all the other great restaurants we had been to, including Eleven Madison in New York – which provided an experience that was totally memorable and real value for money (including beautiful bread provided throughout the meal – although you didn’t need it!). We feel you need to rethink your value proposition and overall experience – we did not leave feeling satisfied from a dinning or value perspective.

This is truly a five star dining experience. Creative and inventive flavours with really unusual combinations. The servers were all knowledgeable and the sommeliers matched great wines with our food. This is a real dining experience for the Melbourne foodie or traveler wanting to see what the hype is about in the Melbourne for scene. Restaurants like Lume put Melbourne on the international food map. It is not cheap but if you are considering it then you knew that already do go for it! You won't regret it.

We had a 7 course meal with matching wine. Highly recommend getting the wine to match. Beautiful setting and everything was attention to detail. Great service from all the team.

Don't get me wrong, the food was mostly good but some of it was pretty underwhelming for me particularly the duck. I just think it is a little to over priced for what you're getting. Service was good though.

A long time has passed since I shortlisted this restaurant. After quick read of the recent review from the good food guide, three minutes before our arrival, a thought came to my mind is is going to be as good as i thought? <br/><br/>Well, it was great, unfortunately I can’t say if it was better than before as is my first time but it doesn’t really matter because i thing the kitchen team is doing an excellent job. This a menu with a level of sophistication that I haven’t seen since Brae. But with something that it really impresses me, that the didn’t forget that people are also hungry, and they also want to taste delicious food. <br/><br/>It thick all the boxes, the menu, is interesting, tasty, sophisticated, ingenious presentation, i like that fact that the chefs presents their own dishes, as they are the ones that witnessed how much work is involved in every single one of them. <br/><br/>The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, the ambient is more relax than most of the fine dinning restaurants, and the Sommelier, which is lovely by the way, creates a very interesting wine list, was very attentive to everything that was happening at the restaurant. <br/><br/>There were a downside, and i have to mention it because we felt that is an ongoing problem and affected the magic of the environment, and it was inexperience waiting staff. While they were very attentive, very polite and always there, it is obvious that the floor team still getting tuned. Every single person are marvellous but there were a few moments of misunderstanding during the night that probably I haven’t seen in a restaurant of this level of sophistication. <br/><br/>I can see that big things are coming to Lume. And big thanks for all the amazing food and great hospitality. Well done.

The vegan/vegetarian 7-course menus (which were almost identical to each other) were a delicious experience.  So were the matched non-alcoholic drinks.  The fact that they offer all of these things is fantastic, and a distinguishing feature from nearly all other fine dining restaurants we've been to.<br/>The dishes were tasty and creative.  Some of them need a bit more work to get the flavour balance right (a bit too salty or too sour), but most were very good and had interesting combinations.  A similar story with the (non-alcoholic) drinks.  My clear favourite was the Coco Shake.<br/><br/>The service was friendly, informal and attentive.  The decorations and surroundings were modern and minimalist.  I particularly liked the fact that there was ample space between all of the tables and that it wasn't noisy.  I found it very easy to have a conversation at the table.<br/><br/>Overall, a very pleasant experience.  Would definitely come again.<br/>They said they change the menus seasonally.  I wonder what they'll be serving in 6 months' time?

Took my mother there to celebrate her 90th birthday which was ruined when we were served up raw chicken for main ....the meat was pink and had blood coming from it!<br/>Management ( I use that word loosely)  informed me they could not replace it and that we could have an extra dessert to which l replied we were all still hungry and get the kitchen to make another main for us. After sitting around we decided to go elsewhere and were charged for what we had .....no discount for stuffing up our night of celebration!

Lûmé restaurant will provide you with a more relaxed contemporary fine dining experience, that is truly unique in its own right.  From their innovative seasonal food menu that will delight your tastebuds, to their notable wine list and the biggest highlight of all – their outstanding service that is friendly and second to none – Lûmé restaurant offers the perfect setting for a special date night or memorable dinner with friends.

Amazing, friendly and personal service. Food was delicious. Loved the pre dinner snacks and the chicken was the best chicken I’ve ever had. The cocktails were excellent too.

What an amazing experience! Food was amazing, setting and ambience was perfect, and the service was second to none! The wine and food knowledge that the wait staff had was incredible! They we so warm, welcoming, and true professionals! Be sure to leave them a generous tip because it’s the best service you will get anywhere in Melbourne!<br/><br/>Major compliments to the chef and kitchen staff. Their knowledge of flavour and texture along with technique and feel for food could not be faulted!<br/><br/>This place is an easy 10/10!

Really great food and service! Most dishes had a little Asian twist to it, haven’t had something so nice for a while. Would highly recommend Lume for any occasions! Twas a splendid evening😬

went for my 30th wed ann. bit unfair as had my 60th a few months back at vue de monde. cant compare the two(but I tried). don&#039;t waste your money ,time or calories. to top it off only spent $340 of a $500voucher and wouldn&#039;t give another voucher for $160.highly illegal but not worth the effort as ,although the service was good,the food abysmal and I wouldn&#039;t go back

Got taken here for my birthday and chose the 7 course to get the full experience. <br/><br/>Overall I liked the first half of the menu, the second half from the mains were a let down for me. This is my second time here, and both experiences were the same, good and then disappointing at the same time. <br/><br/>The mud crab was my favorite dish. Beautiful tomatoes. <br/><br/>I didn’t like the duck this time around, a bit too salty and overdone. The chicken was average too. I prefer Emblas chicken. <br/><br/>Service was average as well. Usually fine dining restaurants ask what the occasion is for but they didn’t for me. <br/><br/>Dessert was Pineapple rum which I didn’t enjoy. It was a bit on the bitter side, especially the rum sauce. Nothing compared to the Tipsy cake from Heston. <br/><br/>The avocado and custard dessert I enjoyed though, and the banana spring rolls. The vegemite biscuits were too dry for my liking. <br/><br/>Overall quite underwhelming and I wouldn’t try my luck again at Lume. <br/>

What NOT to eat - underwhelming tasting menu<br/><br/>Visited on a Saturday night and had the 7 course tasting menu for a birthday celebration. After hearing so many good things from friends, we were excited to finally try Lume. All the dishes were beautifully presented, unfortunately the food did not deliver and most of the courses were underwhelming. Whilst there was nothing particularly wrong with any of the dishes, nothing was amazing and there weren’t any exciting flavour combinations we would usually expect at a restaurant of the calibre. The experience definitely reinforced to us just how amazing Amaru is. <br/><br/>We also found it quite strange that there was a wagyu special being offered for additional cost, given we were doing the tasting menu at the highest price already, you would think this should just get included as part of the menu, rather than try charge customers extra for it. Not sure if the restaurant is now just more interested in making money under the new chef.

Me and my partner dined it here on lunch time for 7 courses. Most of the dish was really unmatched specially the main course it was only crispy pork!!! Me and my partner shocked. Then they gave us to chose another main course which one of the choice were the Wagu beef. We didn’t know that we have to pay extra another $45 for it. Our total bill was $585, only me was paring which some of the paring was non alcoholic, they should let us know before they staring paring and the paring itself cost $130! Really not worth it.

We went there for lunch (7 courses menu) which same has a menu as dinner. Not worth a money at all. Most of the food is not match. Wine paring also.

Best degustation experience I’ve had, every dish was phenomenal. Staff were so lovely. Good background music.Very good vibes overall! Definitely coming back!

Nice restaurant environment, quiet, clean and decent. Thought a small place for only couple of tables, but they have an extend space when you walking toward back.<br/><br/>We had 5 courses set menu without wine pairing. Nice presentation, high food quality, creative entree plate, but the quantity is very limited. We even not very full when finished. We also added one more daily special dish(lobster soup).<br/><br/>Staffs are friendly and considerable. Overall is a good restaurant but without WOW experience.

Amazing dining experience. The food was perfect in every way. The drinks are amazing. The staff are so friendly and welcoming. It’s a dining experience you must have. I chose this place over Vue Due Monde and Attica.

My partner and I dined here for a birthday dinner last year. In summary, $800 spent on unsubstantiated ‘fancery’.. too experimental - too many unbalanced and unmatched flavours. We also left still hungry after 14 courses and matching wine. They offered a free dish to my partner who was really hungry (can’t leave bday boy hungry) which was a lovely gesture but unfortunately made no dent. Not really sure why there are so many 5 stars in the reviews...?? Perplexed.

First impression was great! Clean, waiters looks great in all black. Nice wooden floors and tables with heaps of space between.<br/>First few courses were very good. Beautifully presented as you would expect. Then came the main and it was mainly missed from there. I couldn’t understand why you would do a plain roast chicken as your main. You are paying top dollar to eat chicken? It was nice and the skin was very flavoursome and crispy but I would excepted something more special.<br/>Service was great however one waiter was off her game that night, Never smiling and came to our table to clear the table for the next course when we were still eating and even asked us if we have finished. How can we finished while we were obviously eating it??<br/>Funny thing about the toilet was that the lighting was so dark, I didn’t know if I was missing the urinal or not.<br/>

Fun fine dining by Executive Chef John Rivera, and the eccentric Lume team of restaurant renegades. Contemporary Australian cuisine with a focus on native Australian ingredients and Asian influence.<br/>If you arrive outside with your gps, don’t worry, it’s the correct address. Outside looks like a normal house. No Big fancy sign with the name, you think you are going to someone’s house. But wait for the inside. <br/><br/>Restaurant is beautiful, ambience is fantastic. <br/><br/>We choose 3 courses menu as it was a dinner (you can choose 5 or 7 courses) and all around was exquisite . <br/><br/>We didn’t try the pairing as we were interested in in Tasmanian sparkling ($80).<br/><br/>Service was absolute fantastic<br/><br/>$350 for two people . Is a fantastic place for a special occasion or just to eat and drink if you love food well executed<br/><br/>Great experience

Had my birthday here last year so this is a late review. The chefs put on quite a display of skill and inventiveness though subtly projected in all of their creations that will eventually delicately land on your table. A delicious experience. Thanks for having us!

One of the nicest meals we have had in Australia. Certainly not inexpensive but you get what you pay for. the staff were some of the most professional we have ever had in Australia -- which is always refreshing when you are at a restaurant at this price point. An incredibly innovative menu. A perfect restaurant for a special occasion -- and vastly superior to so many other Melbourne restaurants in the same price range.

Lume is such an amazing experience as soon as you book your meal. It’s a ticketed type process where you prebook your reservation either in full or a deposit. They ask questions that relate to you and your happiness but these answers didn’t really eventuate into anything just more having an open mind ready for your experience.

Tucked away inside an architectural building reminiscent of the olden days, Lume is what it is, a hidden gem.<br/><br/>At 7 courses, time seemed to have tickled away as we were treated to a wonderful evening tasting exotic dishes all with local ingredients as its focal point. Head Chef, John, took extra care blending these together into dishes we're all too familiar with, and yet - all came as a surprise. Every bite had an extra kick, and every dish had a catch. Be it the pepper or the tomato sauce, things were not as seemingly simple as what meets the eye. While the fine ingredients were tasty on their own, what blew me away was what came about when they were consumed together. A sense of harmony. Ones of explosive consequences resulting in intense flavour one just wouldn't expect from such simple looking ingredients. It's clear that John's experience growing up and his exposure to various culture has guided him to find his own craft. A fusion of elements evocative of east meets west. These all came through in his personally crafted dishes, and therein lies the charm of Lume.<br/><br/>However, Lume wouldn't be complete without its amazing team of service staff. From the delicate details, to creating the right ambience, to the sense of distance maintained as we dined. This was what made dining at Lume special for us. I can't thank the staff enough for this. Truly appreciate the explanation of each dish as it came, as understanding these added much depth to what we consumed. The little treat for my birthday, although many months ago, really brought us smiles. What truly made my day was the course menu left with us as we finished up. We had enjoyed every dish and were happy to have been left with something to remind us of it.

My opinion is that Lume is what modern Australian has become, or at least, what the expression should mean. Intelligent use of native and locally produced ingredients, seemingly no cultural restraint (though I would say Japanese was more pronounced in certain dishes), and beautiful presentation, are the themes you see. Sure, there are not many everyday restaurants doing this, but just wait a few years. Cafes are going to have pig face on every dish requiring something green, seasoned macadamias will cover the bar, and salt bush with mountain pepper will be a snack you pick up at the local store. I’m not completely joking.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite places for a special occasion dinner or lunch. <br/><br/>Today was my second time here and once again Lume did not disappoint. <br/><br/>The venue is understated from the outside that you may walk straight past it but inside is where the magic begins. <br/><br/>Service here is impeccable and you are made to feel like you were personally invited to come dine here. <br/><br/>We had the 7 course degustation menu which was sensational. You’re time here never feels rushed and would highly recommend this place for a memorable experience.

Lume, definitely a sensory experience from being in the restaurant to tasting the dishes. The team chanting away the dishes to serve out sounded like a cult. We went for the road and thought the dishes were extremely inventive. At times, I could not guess what was actually in my dishes, such as the miso icecream in "pearl of the ocean floor". It would be great if we were given a written form of what was in the dishes at the end of the meal to reconcile what we actually tasted. The highlights for me was the salted beet, prawn and asparagus, duck and my birthday icecream cake! My husband who had the alcoholic drink pairing thought each drink was perfectly matched with the dish. It was very lovely of the restaurant to make us a birthday cake but the  waitress presented the cake to my husband and mistakenly wished him a happy birthday instead of me! Quite funny and we quickly corrected the error!

Last night I had my first modern molecular gastronomy experience. Their Looking Glass Virtual Reality Experience at Taste of Melbourne 2016 first caught my attention, I was fairly impressed by the restaurant’s willingness to undertake such an innovative concept. Never imagined I’d be celebrating my birthday here 2 years later 🎂🙏🏼.<br/>.<br/>We had ‘AN INDICATION’ ($140) which came with 7 courses of taste bud exploding experience. Each course has its unique mix of many different ingredients, stellar presentation and elegant platings ✨<br/>.<br/>Some of the highlights were the DARWINIAN EGG, you can eat the flakey egg shell too. It has a wonderfully smooth, creamy texture and a strong after taste😋 SMOKED EEL BUTTER got a great smoky flavor, and it got better when paired with a artichoke sourdough and sour corn honey 🍞🍯. THE AGED DUCK 🐤 was phenomenal, it had a medium firm texture, inside was juicy and tender. We finished off with the uncommon OLIVE OIL AND MANDARIN PEEL ICE CREAM 🍦 I did not know Ice cream can have an eclectic palate, sometimes it tasted like a mouthful of freshly cut grass in a good way.<br/>.<br/>The whole experience lasted for 3 hours and half, not fully happy about the service here, def has room for improvement. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed my evening, It’s truly a memorable and unique culinary journey, unlike anything I have ever eaten before 🍴🌟.

We went for my birthday and we ordered the 14 course degustation. Every single course was amazing! It's rare to find a restaurant where every single dish is amazing. All the flavours worked perfectly well together and the theatre made all the dishes very interesting. I usually struggle with degustation because I'd get full by the 5th course but the portion size here was perfect as well.<br/><br/>I can't choose the best dish out of 14, the Pearl on the ocean floor was one of my favorite, as well as the duck with the cured egg.<br/><br/>The wait between dishes was perfect as well, the next dish would always be served within 10 minutes of the previous dish.<br/><br/>All up, I'd definitely revisit for a special occasion!<br/>

we had very high expectations towards the food due to the price, but some just tasted odd and boring. Three of us only enjoyed 4 or 5 dishes out of 14. We do like the natives behind some dishes, but maybe there was too much focus on native Australian ingredients which made the flavor strange. The presentation of food is the only reason why I give this rate. Honestly nothing is surprising good, not recommended for this price.

What an amazing experience and a very nice way to celebrate our anniversary! Each dish was creative, nicely decorated and of course delicious. The staff who attended to us was friendly and attentive but not overly intrusive ( very important for us). Fairly price for the overall ambience and experience too! We were place away from the kitchen in the next room which we prefer so we could have decent conversation without hearing the kitchen.

Shaun Quade opened his multi sensory restaurant Lûmé South Melbourne in 2015, two hatted from the Good Food Guide. Named Australian Restaurant of the Year in 2016. Finally got to visit Lûmé for my birthday! A great experience and dined for almost 4 hours. The two of us had the Tasting Menu of 14 courses, $210pp with cocktail pairing (temperance pairing, $80). They also offer a Vegan course menu with the similar experience. I commend restaurants that do this for vegans as I have a few friends who are.<br/> <br/>The set up of the 14 courses feels very similar to the degustation of Attica but with varying imaginations. We first started with sea corn taco, it’s baby corn with mud crab, the corn is very soft and felt like egg. The crab meat was fresh and didn’t have much seasoning. The cheese taco was delicate too. Paired with Agua Fresca, a basil and kiwi fruit, very aromatic with floral scent and sour taste. J had the non-dairy one which has the darker colour of the corn.<br/><br/>The 2nd course is preserved pine mushroom and chestnut tart, it’s a tart with preserved mushroom and fried macadamia puree. Inside is like beef tartare. They purposely didn’t mention the meat to make it a special surprise for everyone. The non-dairy one was more flakey...

Sea Corn Taco. The corn is not real, it is made of corn and moulded back into the corn shape. Almost like a mousse jelly. Matched well with the taco shell. Really delicious!<br/> <br/><br/>Potato bread with eel butter and honey. The bread is like a sourdough, you can see bits of potato inside which was interesting. The eel butter had a smokey flavour when tasted alone, but when it is combined with the honey, the combo is so good - the taste is hard to describe! The honey isn't a normal honey as well, it had a little burnt smokey flavour to it. If you were to blindfold yourself and eat this either separately or together, you would totally not know what each element is.

I love the set menu, very interesting and full of innovation! The happy duck and the butter is my favourite, the entire experience last for 4 hours plus, a bit tired on the second half. so next time we definitely will go for the smaller menu.

Staff were lovely but the food was a hit and miss. For me personally more misses that hits. The menu is quirky and interesting but when it came to the taste of it all, there were things that didnt go to too well together on a plate. Ultimately behind the drama, there needs to be some substance and I felt it didnt deliver.

Heard a lot about this place and boy I was in for a treat! Got a spot at the kitchen counter which was the best since I get to be in the thick of the action. Got to interact with a few of the chefs (Eileen and David) throughout dinner. Ilanit and Orlando took good care of me with the beverages. Overall an amazing experience, great service, inventive food!!! I might be tempted to return to try the vegan/vegetarian menu. Also my fave dish would have to be pearl on the ocean floor, that scampi roe and all the components in the dish complimented each other.

With the old app this would have been a 4.5 but having to pick between 4 & 5 then it must be a 5. Attentive staff, extremely creative food, amazing presentation, fair price for the experience.

Overall, we had a great time at Lume. We had a fantastic table where we got to witness the hustle and bustle of the pass. All the chefs worked so harmoniously. Our server, was very relaxed, friendly and made us genuinely laugh which added to the experience. The food was great and we got to taste really interesting innovative things. It was just a playful array of courses where not everything tasted the same as it was described on paper. We were definitely very full leaving Lume. It was a well celebrated birthday.

Well what can I say about Lumè? Innovative, outside the box, stunning interior with soft furnishings and understated elegance that reminded me of Paris. We came here last year for my birthday and had the degustation. I'd seen Pearl on the Ocean Floor in Masterchef and whilst it was smaller in person, was not any less stunning. They kindly offered us an extra dessert as it was a special occasion. This worked out well because I wasn't a massive fan of the olive oil ice-cream. Executed well but I just left the mouth feel of a custard based icecream or a gelato.<br/><br/>The pork belly was also juicy and flavoursome.<br/><br/>I had so many friends ask me what the restaurant was after seeing the photos - very unique establishment indeed!

Food AMAZING - up there with brae <br/>staff AMAZING - see above <br/>Music playlist - probably the best I’ve heard in a restaurant- nick cave to pj Harvey, what more could you ask for!

Such an amazing experience with brand new flavours, never tasted before. Certainly a breath of fresh air and full of adrenaline for the pallet! Service is of very high standards and having chefs come to your table with the dish they’ve made, makes it even more special.

A culinary journey! <br/>Albeit a very long one <br/>14 courses of interesting Australian inspired creations that leave you wondering what you have eaten in both good and bad ways. <br/>4.5 hours to get through all the courses is very long it could have been condensed down to three hours and left me feeling fuller upon departure.<br/>Highlights :<br/>- artichoke bread with eel butter <br/>- aged duck <br/>- sea corn taco<br/>- Marron <br/>- smoked potato and salmon eggs<br/>Not so great: <br/>- pearl on the ocean floor<br/>- desserts

Certainly the service and ambience makes for an enjoyable dining experience. The dishes were visually stunning. My only recommendation is perhaps to serve the smoked potato and salmon roe in 2 or 3 small portions (made to look like tiny eggs) rather than 1 larger serve which was difficult to bite. Being a coffee lover, I was not a fan of the drip coffee. Aside from that, the crockery was beautiful, great honey pot and the Japanese knives were stunning. Thank you

Me and my wife were at Lume for my wife’s birthday dinner. We had the 14 course dinner and enjoyed the majority of dishes. Warm ambience, very nice and friendly staff, efficient and on time service together with interesting dishes, made the night more special. There were lots of technique and exciting tastes in each dish, and plates looked aesthetically amazing. I think 4.7 to 4.8 is the closest rate. We will definitely go back again.

I have been wanting to try Lume for a while now so Vi Dang took me for my 22nd birthday. We had the best seats in the house and were seated right infront of the kitchen so we could see everything in action. I really enjoyed our dining experience, our most favourite dish was the olive oil gelato dessert. One of the best ice creams I have ever had, absolutely delicious. I also really liked the "golden egg" and the duck course. Service was exceptional, one of the waiters in particular was very funny and friendly to talk to as well. Thank you for the lovely dining experience!

There was huge expectations due to the price, reviews, website and decor. Unfortunately it fell way short, the food, although presented beautifully missed the mark on flavour. Only 3 of the 12 dishes were quality and the wines were paired very poorly. Almost gave up in the end as I knew what the flavour would be, they kind of all tasted the same bland taste and the wines were mostly too sweet and fruity. <br/>Cannot recommend, there are far better experiences for that money.

The good bits - the staff were delightful and attentive. I have many food allergies and was thoroughly looked after - as in they went above and beyond to recreate menu items to suit my dietary requirements. The presentation of the food was delightful. <br/><br/>The other bits - the food itself wasn’t to my taste. I would consider myself fairly adventurous but just felt the flavours tried a bit too hard. I had the non alcoholic drinks package and it was just too sweet with the foods. By about course 10 I felt quite overwhelmed by all the flavours. <br/><br/>I’m glad I have ticked it off my list and had the experience but wouldn’t return. <br/>

Excellent place to go for a birthday meal. From the moment we walked in they made sure we were well taken care of with our drink choices sorted. The courses were fantastic with flavours we'd never tried before and the surprise of a deconstructed birthday cake at the end was the literal icing on an amazing experience. Biggest highlight was the incredibly well-cooked pork and duck, biggest surprise was the pearl of seaweed ice cream. Will definitely be back!

What a place. So many people raved about Lume, and it did not disappoint but instead exceeded every expectation.<br/>Beautiful townhouse restaurant which feels like your own living-room. Creative cooking, spot on service, amazing beverage pairing. Nothing to fault, just perfect!

Came here for my birthday dinner and I just wanted to say it was phenomenal . Having been to Attica and Brae , I can say with confidence Lume is up there in the high leagues. The service was top notch as with the food . The only reason this is not a 5/5 is due to the fact there was a period where the wait times between meals was a little long . Other than that the food was very unique and in perfect proportions . I thoroughly enjoyed my time here <br/><br/>Special mention - Lume has served my favourite bread and butter course I’ve ever had

This was our second visit to Lume. First back in 2015 and absolutely loved it, back again in 2018.<br/>Wow what a restaurant. A true fine dining experience but with a relaxed feel, how this restaurant isn’t higher ranked astounds me.<br/><br/>We had The Road which was their compressive tasting menu, and my partner enjoyed the wine match. There was also a non alcoholic beverage match, and a alcoholic match with a variety of wines, ciders and sakes.<br/><br/>Being the designated driver, I was happy to enjoy a glass of champagne and also an olive oil cocktail which was hands down one of the best cocktails I’ve had.<br/><br/>Service was faultless, and the food absolutely amazing. All dishes were beautiful but stand outs were the pearl on the ocean which not only smelt but also tasted like you were right at the beach, and also the berry sashimi.<br/><br/>If I had to be very picky to find one area of improvement, it would be a very small detail of having a small stool or basket for your handbag/ clutch. It’s a little thing and not the end of the world, but would make the experience feel that one notch more complete. I’ve always loved having somewhere other than on the table for my bag, at fine dining establishments.<br/><br/>Our dining experience was up there with some of of our other favourites - Vue De Monde and The Press Club.<br/><br/>Just shy of $800 for two adults, including two tasting menus, one wine match, two champers, and a variety of single drinks by the glass, definitely money well spent for a beautiful evening.<br/><br/>Highly recommend and won’t leave it that long again before we return!

Lume was amazing! Had their incitation plus a couple of cocktails... we all really love the lemon cocktail - like the waiter said, it’s like they took the lemon and made it three dimensional and it was mind blowing.<br/><br/>There were a few memorable dishes, #cornnotcorn, #musksticknotmuskstick, #unrealvanilla and #realduck ate highlights (they are not their actual names btw).<br/><br/>What I found was that the desserts were all fruity, there were two desserts and one petit fours - they could have made one chocolatey <br/><br/>Also they recommended a mandarin drink to my friend, assuring her that it would not be bitter but in actual fact, it was bitter.

Couldn’t fault any part of my dining experience here! My bf made a reservation here to surprise me, and I was blown away. From the moment we entered, the staff were incredible. So friendly and were the definition of attentive. They all looked like they loved working there too. We did The Road degustation, and it was simply amazing. All the dishes were mouthwateringly wonderful. They had multiple dishes where looks deceived what it actually tasted like. Every element on the plate was carefully placed by the chefs, and we loved watching them plate up the dishes from the open kitchen. The flavours of each course were always different but so delicious. We also had a few wines that were picked out for us by the sommelier to suit certain dishes, because we didn’t want to do the wine matching, and they all complimented the dishes perfectly. If you love fine dining, this is the perfect place to book!

Our dinner was sensational! Unlike at Vue de Monde I loved that we weren’t rushed. We did The Road and it took 3.5 hours. Everything we had was brilliant and a work of art really. Our sommelier was very rehearsed, I wish she would just loosen up a little but I can’t fault them on that everything was simply incredible. My favourites would have been the marron, the pearl on the ocean floor and maybe the mackerel! So delicious!

Cheese is not cheese. Butter is not butter. What do I actually mean by this? Maybe you should come and try it yourself! Love this place where it plays with your sight and tastebuds. So much innovation and creativity in each of their dish! It keeps on giving me the element of surprise. Also,I had a lot of fun with such friendly and good service by the team. However, some dishes were a tad bit salty for my liking. So if they could adjust that a little bit, that would be perfect for me. But, my friend didn't have any issue with their dishes. These 3 photos are my favourite. I didn't want to post the rest, as I believe you should really go and try it for yourself, given that my photos won't do any justice and also, I would like to keep the element of surprise for all of you out there! <br/><br/>Tips:<br/>1) You'll need to make a reservation and pick a menu beforehand and pre pay your meal.<br/>2) Keep an open mind and just trust the chef!<br/><br/>Have fun!

What a superb place. Amazing. Delicious. Messes with your mind and leaves you satisfied. We’ve done lots of top degustations and this is easily up there with the best of them.

Ok, so this place has potential. It got me excited from the very start when the survey during booking made me think it was going to be a great experience. Unfortunately it is way too robotic for my liking. The staff are way too rigid and lacked personality. The food is ok, not bad, just ok. Whilst I love to experience different flavours most of the food lacked flavour, and some were just strange. You can't just make things taste strange and expect that people will feel like they're dining at an expensive restaurant. You need to make the flavours explode for that kind of money. The presentation of the food was the only thing I'm giving it a rating of 3 for. Not really impressed with the cocktails - they stuffed mine twice after I told them I don't do champagne. Anyway it is not an experience I would recommend.

Great dining experience, professional staff. Loved the beautiful crockery too and interior design of the restaurant. Would recommend friends to go here.

Favourite restaurant. I will be coming back often ! 10/10 customer service. 10/10 food. Chef catered to our needs even if we have been there before.

Just had chance to review this restaurant - came here for my partner's birthday in May and it was located in a lovely little house like building and we love the concept. There were 9 of us including 3 children and we were given special room at the back. We all had "A Proposition" and the service was really attentive. The Jerusalem artichoke bread and eel honey was beautiful. The sea corn taco was marvelous but the highlight was definitely the pearl of the ocean. We had pavlova for dessert (which I'm quite disappointed about as I am a chocolate dessert type of person) but they went out of their way to surprise my partner with another birthday dessert which we all ended up having. Overall I think the food has so much potential and I look forward to trying it again.

In the same price and rate, there are so many restaurants have more good taste food. I'm not a big fan of this restaurant. <br/>The service is good

nice dinner lovely staff! But a little bit push, we haven’t finish the course yet, the staff come twice to collect the plate~ but not a big deal, still love the restaurant, so many surprises!

Fantastic fine dining experience. Really creative, innovative and avant-garde cooking. From the outside, the place looks like a classic Victorian home, but from the inside it looks very posh yet homey and comfortable with peach pink theme. <br/><br/>Opted for the seven course menu. The food from start to finish was amazing, leaves me with "hmm!" in excitement. All dish highlight flair in the cooking. The appetizer was booming with flavors. Absolutely love the smoked potato and roe. Love the "Pearl on the ocean floor", taste of the sea permeates dominantly through my palate. The main course, lamb belly was majestic, has crispy outer layer, yet so moist and tender along with the best asparagus I have ever had. The desert of mandarin peel and olive oil ice cream was the perfect and smart finish of the course. So fresh and aromatic. <br/><br/>Service thoughtful, attentive and caring. Drinks is nice and fresh, I ordered the modernized classic cocktail.

18 courses of deliciousness! Rich, creative and adventurous flavours. The ‘lemon’ dish is pure genuis. Presentation exquisite. Staff friendly and knowledgeable.

I was admittedly tentative prior to dinner, considering we had to pay for the meal upfront at the time of booking and it was non-refundable. We had 'The Road' degustation for $210 each, which was 14-15 dishes spread out over 4.5hrs, and I also ordered the alcoholic beverage pairing for an additional $120. Was it worth the price? Yes! Whilst the degus is expensive compared to a lot of other restaurants in Melbourne, it was completely worth the experience, both in terms of restaurant atmosphere and food quality, and my friends and I had an absolutely wonderful evening. Lume is situated in a lovely refurbished old house on a quiet street in South Melbourne, with genuinely friendly, efficient and knowledgeable staff. The food itself was the biggest surprise for me, with no bad dish, and overall a thoughtful fusion of contemporary Australian and even a touch of Asian. Hard to pick a favourite dish as there were so many standouts, but I loved the duck ravioli, artichoke bread with eel butter and corn honey, bbq abalone with emu ham and mushroom in broth, smoked duck with egg, and the desserts. Some of the drink pairings were also spot-on including a apple cardamon and mountain pepper drink that was one of the best non-alcoholic drinks I've had at a restaurant. Overall, a restaurant I would definitely recommend to any foodie for its creative and inspired dishes. Thank you to the team at Lume for an amazing night!

Went on a anniversary with my partner. This place is more at the modern side of the taste. Love the cosy environment and the super friendly staffs. Food itself was made by high quality ingredients but not for our liking. But the whole concept still very impressive. Located in a quite street.

Was incredibly full at the end of the degustation, could hardly move. However, was it worth the price? Probably not.... everything was cooked quite nicely but the flavour combinations were downright strange. I think there was perhaps too much focus on native Australian plants, meats and flavours which made some dishes simply taste odd.

While I was researching information about restaurants down Melbourne for my last week's short trip, photos of dishes at the gallery of this renowned restaurant made me so fascinated. Read its history and found the head chef "Shaun Quade"'s concept matching my expectation in terms of innovation and not restricted by traditional culinary cooking method. I made my reservation immediately and waited till last week to explore this two-hatted restaurant. We booked for the degustation "The Road" prior to our arrival and was greeted by professional and passionate wait-staff since we walked in Shaun' s culinary paradise. Lay out is cosy and spacious dining area divided in two sections. Tables at the front section are facing the bar and opened kitchen so diners can oversee how the team preparing the food & beverage while they are enjoying their meals. We chose the non-alcoholic drinks to pair with the degustation which was the third times that we did that. Remember the first time was dining at the Brea and the second time was at Momofuku. Actually, the pairing of non-alcoholic drinks at Lume really reflected that they did deliberately matching different ingredient in order to enhance the specific taste of individual dish. Well done! I could not describe every single dish of the whole night but there were four dishes that made the whole night so impressive. First, the marron and sated elderberries, apple and mountain marigold; chefs spent a lot of time to de-shell the marron as we could see the claw was presented so nice and unique. Second, the Spanish mackerel with fermented pine mushroom and sea urchin.; it was the first time that I tasted the texture of mackerel to be so soft and I really did not want to swallow it. Third, the age duck smoked over melaleuca; it was not only the meat with rich taste after aging, it was the skin which earned my appreciation. It was crispy and melted in my mouth. Fourth, pearl on the ocean floor was hero of the night; it earned my attention and withdrew my memory about the pressure test that Shaun prepared for the contestants of Master Chef 2017 on this particular dish. The four different kind of seafood accompanied with this dish were all well prepared, together with the other ingredients, the chefs really nailed the symbolic sense of what the dish intended to deliver. Overall, the dining experience at Lume was impressive and the team-spirit was much appreciated. The only comment was the pricy was slightly high as compared to Attica and Vue de Monde, not to mention about Minamishima or Brae.

I must say, this whole experience was very exciting. We had the 14-course degustation and every dish did not disappoint. When we started with the first three, they were so small and refined. I thought this portion won't get me fully satisfied, but it did!<br/><br/>The direction the restaurant has is very intriguing, conceptual experience with every dish, it realy takes you where the food is supposed to take you.<br/><br/>Incredible!!!

Definitely our top 10 dining experience. Food presentation and flavour is amazing - great gastronomic adventure. Our only comment is that the manner of service felt overly controlled and acted, pleasant but slightly forced.

Very professional service. Food is excellent. Interesting ingredients and play on the ingredients and visual aspect. Would definitely return. No issues with parking for dinners.

Illuminating. A visit to Lume on a recent Saturday night was a truly illuminating dining experience. The unassuming terraces that house it in South Melbourne reveal an unexpectedly contemporary interior - in both design and dinner. <br/><br/>You know that Lume is different from the first interaction - super sophisticated service, and a prepaid ticketing system for reservations. That's certainly unusual in Australia, seen most recently when Heston Blumenthal brought the Fat Duck to Melbourne (and managed through the same website - Tock). And whilst it might take a bit of getting used, and is $170 each for the signature "The Road" degustation, you won't regret it if you're an adventurous eater. <br/><br/>And what an exciting adventure it is! From the miniature sea corn taco starter, it was clear we were in for something very special. Since it was a special occasion we were celebrating, we splurged on the cellar wine pairing ($170) with one temperance pairing ($70) for our designated driver. Totally worth it for the range and quality of food and beverages, including the really innovative and interesting non-alcoholic drinks - including flavours of licorice, wattleseed, celery, a faux sake, burnt pineapple and an extraordinary verisimilitude of vermouth. <br/><br/>But back to the food. I'd deliberately avoided researching the menu, so the begonia tart, golden egg noodles and other gastronomic delights were an absolute and utter surprise and pleasure. My dining companions were less restrained, so they knew what to expect but l don't think it really prepared them for the knockout flavours of the 'pearl on the ocean floor' that matched the visual sensation. Nor how delicately and closely the squid roll was scored and the intense flavours in every dish.<br/><br/>Service is exquisite yet relaxed. The youthful sommelier clearly knows her stuff and the complementarity if food and drinks was exceptional. Worth the time, money and all the kudos it gets.

We nearly didn't go.....paying for a meal in advance (including a tip) is not something I've ever been asked to do before and it was a bit off putting. To pre-authorise, yes, but to actually pay up three months before dining??? <br/>We had ordered The Road - the big meal - and we weren't disappointed. In a 13 course meal, naturally, some courses will appeal more than others, but most were explosive,innovative and exquisitely presented full of bursts of flavor. Every morsel was a taste sensation.My favorite??? Hard pick, but I'd have to go for the olive ice cream.......or maybe the fromage de chou-fleur...or maybe????<br/>I was a little surprised at the lack of 'red meat' - just one course of duck, and the rest was seafood and vegetables. To me that was a plus - but a true carnivore may be left wanting. <br/>We opted for the non-alcoholic drink pairing and it didn't disappoint. This option is often much more interesting as the drinks are made to match the meals and Lume did not let us down. I'm often disappointed in wine pairings and prefer to select my own tipple. It worked well. <br/>Unfortunately, Lume still needs to do some work on the overall experience which was somewhat lacking.<br/>We arrived at 6:15, had a cocktail (the Gimlet is superb) and were shown to our table at 6:30 - as per our booking. It was 45 minutes later before a single morsel of food appeared in front of us - I do hope the people at the next table weren't put off my my tummy rumbles. I would have done anything for even a slice of bread - but that course came somewhere in the middle of the meal.<br/>The entire experience felt rather 'staged' and quite stilted, as though the wait staff had been trained and had a script to follow. (I have read somewhere that acting coaches have been used to train staff? It shows)<br/>And then there's the kitchen chorus - each order from the chef to the kitchen is echoed  by the entire kitchen staff yelling it out. I've never seen anything like it except in a Japanese Department store. It makes for an interesting performance but doesn't do much for conversation with dinner partners to be constantly interrupted by shouts of 'two duck please!'  <br/>I would have liked a much more relaxed approach, but then gimmicks aren't my thing. <br/>But, ultimately, it's all about the food and Shaun Quade has nailed it! Thanks for a great night.

In short a great experience.  After visiting Brae and Attica in the last 6 months the bar was set pretty high. Shaun Quade and his team managed to leap over the bar and provide an evening which was beyond satifying.  I look for the Wow factor in a restaurant aspiring to be great and it was there in spades. <br/>Firstly service was attentive and informative without sermonising.<br/>Secondly of the 15 odd courses in 'The Road' about 8 of them had that Wow factor that stands a restaurant out from the pack.  The 'Temperance' Drinks were inovative and in most cases exquisitely matched the food course.<br/>Thirdly the ambience had the only let down factor. The setting was delightfully understated and there was plenty of room around the tables but it was the continual chanting of the kitchen staff which was disconcerting and eventually annoying and prevented me giving this restaurant a 5.

Since opening in 2015, Lûmé has always been about offering a theatrical and multisensory dining experience. We had the opportunity to speak to owner and head chef Shaun Quade

Lume provides for a wonderful, special occasion, dining experience. My partner and I visited Lume on a Saturday night and therefore had The Road. We chose not to spend an additional $120pp on matches drinks, on top of the $170pp food cost and instead worked with the sommelier who matched various glasses of wine to every couple of courses. This worked well for us. <br/><br/>The food was impeccable and difficult to fault. <br/><br/>The sea corn taco, a dish we had already tried at Taste of Melbourne in 2016, is a wonderful, flavour packed, yet compact package and a great way to start the meal. The pearl on the ocean floor is the most impressively presented dish and provides an interesting combination of white chocolate against hidden seafood. It is a delightful dish to explore and eat. The strawberry-fed duck meat was beautiful and worked perfectly with the honey it is served with. The standout dessert was the olive oil ice-cream with fennel and absinthe. <br/><br/>The service was wonderful and whilst the atmosphere can be a little uptight, this is broken up by the chorus-calling from the kitchen staff when food is ready to be served. <br/><br/>And I can't not mention the toilets, the ladies bathroom came fully stocked with beautiful supplies including Herbivore face mist, bobby pins, Lucky hand soap and hand cream.

I first heard of Lumé at the Gault & Millau awards last year. A quick look at Lumé in the guide and I was hooked. I had a very underwhelming experience at Attica earlier in the year and was losing a bit of faith in fine dining. Thank you Lumé for restoring faith and setting the bar of what fine dining should be. I didn’t really have any expectations of what sort of experience we would have, so kept an open mind and eyes open. The exterior is quite humble and modest. Just one step on the front verandah and the door is instantly opened for us with a warm smile and welcome. Wow, I stood there in awe, as in front of me was what can only be described as a beautiful painting. A long open dining hall with just a few tables, the warmth of soft lighting, the sheer amount of staff - some standing tall in the corner waiting to serve you, some at the bar skillfully making a cocktail, the multitude of chefs plating with finesse. <br/><br/>We were shown to the bar and again warmly greeted by the bar staff. One thing you will notice is the calmness; waiters are softly spoken, the chefs are quietly plating. The only time you will hear something is when the head chef sets the next order and a resounding “Yes Chef” is heard from all. From here I recommend ordering one of their bespoke cocktails. They are hand crafted luscious elixirs. Again the bar staff are so professional taking us on the journey of what is in the cocktail and how they make their elixirs. Top marks for an eclectic Whisky display - Amrut Fusion! <br/><br/>We were ready to be seated and again the service is impeccable, our glasses placed on trays and brought to us, chairs pulled out and in for us, napkins folded across our lap. If you need to use the bathroom someone immediately comes to your aid and escorts you there. Whilst you are away your napkin is folded and other staff will come to check it is folded correctly and is in the exact position it should be in! Try to secure one of the 4 tables near the kitchen. It’s pure theatre, facing straight on to the kitchen. It’s mesmerising watching the magic unfold. Again I cannot get over how calm and quiet it is. Lumé is in possession of an enviable array of crockery, but you will never hear a clang of crockery or a chime of cutlery being dropped. Pure perfection. When at Lumé opt for the biggest degustation and I also recommend paired beverages. You can choose from a standard wine pairing, but we were more adventurous going for the mix of beverages including wines from the world, sakes and cocktails. Some of the beverages I would not normally try or did not like on their own but when paired with the individual meal they are perfect! This is a testament to the sommeliers skills. Over the course of the night we were presented with a multitude of meals. I won’t go in to each one but I was very impressed with all of them. Each plated exceptionally, tasted delicious and the story behind each was fascinating. Sometimes when you go to fine dining restaurants you leave feeling hungry, at Lumé this is not the case and I can not complement them on this enough. Of course you won’t leave bloated, but you will be very content, I was actually probably done 2 dishes before the end. <br/><br/>Again it is the attention to detail that makes Lumé special. This is an experience you need to have, this is restaurant you need in your life. We are so lucky in Melbourne to call Lumé our own. They should be in The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants and be featured on Chefs Table!

Went for the set degustation menu, was not disappointed for the full experience wine match is a must the sparkling which was made from full Pinot noir variety was delicious and paired perfectly with the oyster, loved the soft crab in the corn husk which was made to look like baby corn, it was a truely amazing experience and having the open kitchen right across from us was a bonus..... amazing night of dining!!!!!!

I'll have to admit the whole booking process was a little wanky, having to pay first and the mandatory tip is way over the top we thought, luckily the food, service and restaurant itself really backed it up. <br/><br/>The venue is very Melbourne, small but trendy. All the tables inside were lined up with both seats pointed at the open kitchen so we were able to watch the kitchen and bar work their magic. Most of their equipment seems straight from a laboratory, and the efficiency of the staff was almost hypnotic to watch. <br/><br/>The food was highly imaginative, but with flavors to match. There was a lot of seafood dishes, the highlight for us was the pearl on the ocean floor, which reminds me of fat duck's sound of the ocean, but possibly a little better and the abalone with emu broth and ham. <br/><br/>My only criticism would be the lack of vegetables to balance out the dishes, especially the duck, which was too thick, so there were a lot of chewy sinews that i had to cut out. The cheese dish looked impressive but really lacked a lot of flavor as well. <br/><br/>Definitely not cheap, but the high quality of the produce used makes it worthwhile.

Food and service were excellent. I enjoyed all the courses but the desserts were absolute standouts. The food was creative and very well balanced. The starters were whimsical and well presented. The dory dish looked simple but was full flavoured and I loved the addition of spatzle and sunflower seeds. The duck dish was also delicious and the duck was cooked to perfection with crispy skin. Desserts were to die for! The olive oil ice cream was packed full of flavour; sweet, salty, creamy with a nice addition of textures too. My favourite course was the berry pavlova with the fig leaf ice cream and freeze dried meringue. It was well balanced and I couldve eaten another portion of it. The cocktails were really good as well.

An incredible gastronomic experience that expands your imagination. A must do for all people living in or visiting Melbourne. <br/><br/>The service was top class, but did not feel snobby. <br/>The food was incredible, almost something out of Heston's inspiration but in some areas even better.<br/>The drinks, especially non alcoholic were a spectacular addition as essential to the experience as the food.<br/><br/>Negative reviews are redundant and seem modivated by envy. Background searches indicate some are disgruntled chefs.<br/><br/>Nevertheless. Highly recommended to everyone who can go. It's a must.

This was an incredible experience. The atmosphere of the restaurant was bright and intimate, but as well as very spacious. We were lucky enough to get front row seats to watch all the action happen in the kitchen. The food was absolutely beautiful with such attention to minor detail. The staff were so friendly and attentive. I would definetly recommend going for The Road to experience the whole Lumé experience.

we been there two weeks ago with a big excitation to try this restaurant which our friend says good thing. <br/>the food was good, we took "the road" menu. Good for the price. <br/>very disappointed when we ask where the croissant come from and no one able to answer us, even the chef. <br/>the staff told me "i will ask the chef if you want to" but he NEVER came back. For me, it is very irrespecutful for your high quality restaurant to never be back. <br/>I also send an email and of course, no response. <br/>i will not recommend this restaurant.

Lume is my top 1 favourite degustation venue in Melbourne.<br/><br/>It resides in a residential building in south Melbourne. Trendy decoration, great service and my favourite is of course, the food.<br/><br/>Wishing to come back for the 13-14 courses degustation so I can add more details to this post.

We had a 10dish full course. I love the mini carrot and calamari, the emu ham is a bit salty. Really like the roast duck garnished with plums and yolk, just perfect.

Lûmé is a dining experience like no other, and should be on every adventurous foodie's bucket list.<br/><br/>Head Chef Shaun Quade's creativity with flavours and attention to detail never fails to impress me every visit (I've been to Lûmé about 7 times in the past year). Orlando mixes a mean cocktail and the service from Dan, Alice and the rest of the Lûmé team is faultless - attentive and accommodating without being overbearing.<br/><br/>On that note - a hot tip - the Temperance menu for non-drinkers is a highlight. Some very clever concoctions that pair beautifully with all dishes on the set menu.<br/><br/>Truly world-class dining in my opinion, and a restaurant truly deserving of the recognition it is getting (Gault&Millau Restaurant of the Year 2017 people!!). I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Best restaurant in Melbourne hands down! The service is incredible, and I don't mean 'fake smile' incredible, I mean actual attentiveness and care.<br/><br/>The food is prepared with such love and creativity which translates to an absolute party in your mouth! <br/><br/>Lighting, decor, mood - my god, when can I move in?!

Signed up for a 5 course bar experience through 'living social'<br/>Food was amazing!<br/>Setting was really nice - love ts of space between tables and lots of elbow room <br/>Service was shocking<br/>Dan, sommelier and floor manager was frankly rude<br/>Tiny portions 'to share'<br/><br/>That would have been ok but Dan was openly aggressive and just unjustifiable for the level that this establishment aims to be <br/>

Had a wonderful dinner at Lume in December - playful yet delicious food with a focus on provenance and unrushed service. The open kitchen and the unison shouts of the kitchen staff when a plate is ready add to the experience. Only potential negative was that the wine list was a little limited for a restaurant of this calibre.

Dined at Lume for birthday celebration on the New Year's eve. Opted for "The Road" vegetarian version in 14 courses. We're immensely satisfied and the wow effect is beyond words. Top notch hospitality, high attention to detail in every course and exquisite presentation.