Restaurateur Chris Lucas and his wife and design partner Sarah Lucas will open Noẽma in Melbourne this spring, a modern Greek restaurant drawing on his heritage and connection to the country’s food culture.
Noẽma will join Lucas’ recently announced Hong Kong-inspired eatery Wishbone in the dining precinct at the base of the development at 435 Bourke Street in Melbourne’s mid-town.
The venue, named using the Greek word meaning thought, understanding, and contemplation, represents a lifelong ambition for Lucas. For years his family, friends, and guests have been asking when he will open a Greek restaurant.
“I’ve always wanted to do it, but the time had to be right,” says Lucas.
“I’ve always chosen to create restaurants thoughtfully, based on what inspires me, rather than doing the obvious or recreating what already exists. The food at Noẽma will reflect the energy of Greece today and the food I love to eat, while also capturing the warmth, generosity and love that defined my upbringing in a family of food-obsessed Greeks.”
The menu will showcase Australian ingredients alongside carefully selected ingredients sourced from Greece and will be seafood-forward and seasonal, using a custom charcoal grill and slow cooking. The restaurant will import olive oil sourced from south of Athens alongside traditional Greek feta, spirits, and specialty products.
“The modern era has seen Greek cuisine undergo a transformation that is captivating the world,” says Lucas.
“Today, Athens, and Greece more broadly, are producing some of the most exciting food seen anywhere in the world. There is a respect for tradition, but it’s expressed through simplicity, incredible produce, and a contemporary point of view. Athens itself is pulsing with energy and creativity rather than feeling weighed down by the past.”
Collaborating with longtime design partner Mitchell & Eades, Sarah says the design approach for Noẽma is all about simplicity and warmth. The outside façade is designed in collaboration with Lucas and Bates Smart, featuring distinctive sail-like curved windows inspired by the boats of the Mediterranean.
“We are using natural textures including raw timber, linen and stone to create a space that feels tactile, relaxed and timeless, with earthy tones that reflect modern Greek living while remaining unmistakably Melbourne,” says Sarah.
Further details and booking information will be announced closer to opening.
Photography by Dan Castano.
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Dining and Cooking