One of my biggest dining highlights to date took place almost five years ago at Shannon Bennett's Vue de Monde, ticking all the boxes when it came down to ambience, food and views. And while the Vue de Monde experience is not an every day experience (once every five years, perhaps?), it was nice to get a taste of the real deal with The Lui Counter Meal at Lui Bar.

Ambience, tick. Views, tick. Food comes in the form of snacks, a 3 course meal or the counter meal which comprises a main course+glass of wine or beer, and runs Thursday to Sunday lunch, priced at $39 pp. I opted for the fish while my dining companion chose the duck. Fish was a barramundi fillet; superbly fresh and its salted skin a contrast to the natural sweetness of the flesh. The creamy emulsion and crisp earthy bite of the kale added both flavour balance and textural oomph. Save some room for dessert, especially if you’re a chocolaholic. It’s perhaps a touch too decadent for my lack of a sweet tooth, but the airy light texture is just utter perfection (chocolate cloud) and no other souffles I’ve tried have come close to nailing it so on the head…

EAT: LUI BAR, MELBOURNE CBD

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