Former Mikuni chef, Moon Kyung Soo, along with The Lucas Group’s team unveiled the brand new Kisume in Melbourne a while back. Moon, relocated to Australia in February this year, after helming Mikuni at Fairmont Singapore for the past six years. Restaurateur Chris Lucas, The Lucas Group’s founder and CEO, who also owns Melbourne’s popular Chin Chin restaurant (and the soon-to-open Sepia), approached Moon to join Kisume as senior executive chef, and to oversee the kitchen team, which also includes Japanese brothers Yosuke and Shimpei Hatanaka.
Meaning ‘a pure obsession with beauty’, Kisumé is a sophisticated three-level concept venue located at Flinders Lane, right smack in the city. The contemporary Japanese restaurant boasts a sushi bar and restaurant on the ground floor and basement levels, as well as Kuro Kisumé on the first floor. The latter features The Table, a unique 12-seat omakase-style dining experience (where the Korean-born Moon will be showcasing his skills), two private dining rooms, and the Chablis Bar, which offers up to 80 varieties of Chablis by the bottle.
The team at Kisumé
Almost the entire menu at Kisumé features produce from Australia and New Zealand. Highlights include steamed king crab gyoza with quail egg and bonito vinaigrette; chilled hiyashi lime soba noodles in bonito broth and fresh lime; foie gras and beef tenderloin with yakiniku soy; and seared yellowfin tuna tataki with wasabi tofu and chilli yuzu ponzu.
Kisumé & Kuro Kisumé, 175 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Tel: 03-9671 4888. kisume.com.au
