Grill Americano

For Melbourne restaurant impresario Chris Lucas, dining is an occasion. It has to be opulent, elegant and indulgent – and the food must have the flavour to stand up to all the frills and finery. Grill Americano (grillamericano.com), his latest venture on Flinders Lane, marches to this signature beat with its rich dark-blue interiors, liveried waiters and go-all-out dishes, which include a flamboyant bistecca alla Fiorentina and scampi alla Venezia, a whole scampi served on a scalloped French stainless-steel dish. “It’s a new experience for Australia – to combine what is ostensibly an Italian restaurant with an American steakhouse,” says Lucas. “There are lots of them in New York, such as Carbone and Sparks. American grilling and seafood with European sensibilities is, to me, a very sexy combination.” The crowds agree, with Lucas reporting that early guests are “dressing up” when they visit. “We’re all looking for something a bit special to take us away from everything that’s happened over the past few years.”