LOCATION
Five minutes’ drive from the city.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Hailing from Liguria, owner Lucio Galletto orchestrates proceedings swiftly, graciously and with a continuously welcoming persona that hasn’t tired over the years. He has successfully continued his family restaurant business, providing a mouth-watering interpretation of authentic Italian cuisine here in Sydney. Lucio’s Italian Restaurant is currently celebrating 26 years in its tree-lined Paddington location, which is proof enough of its culinary triumph. Inside, the dining room’s yellow walls are smattered with stunning artworks – in fact, Lucio’s is renowned for being perhaps Australia’s most renowned art restaurant, featuring many leading contemporary Australian artists.
The menu, too, is a colourful work of art that prides itself on the freshest of the fresh ingredients highlighted with traditional Italian produce. Begin with a single zucchini flower stuffed with spanner crab, lightly battered and fried before segueing into a dramatically eye-catching entree of black handkerchief pasta with cuttlefish, mussels, prawns and chilli. The green noodles with blue swimmer crab is another dazzler, and you’ll be pleased to know that all pastas are handmade in-house daily. Move on to a succulent roasted lamb rump with a warm salad of bortolli beans, parsley and preserved lemon, or pork fillet wrapped with pancetta and sage and served with char-grilled red onions and peaches. Round off a perfect Italiano meal with a sheep’s milk yoghurt pannacotta with watermelon and hazelnut wafer, or a selection of local and imported cheeses. Brilliantly executed without a pinch of snubbery, Lucio’s is indeed one of Sydney’s finest Italian-flavoured restaurants – and one that will remain so for time to come.
Annabel Wise
DETAILS
Lucio’s has been recognised numerous times over the years as a superior dining establishment, including two hats in this year’s Good Food Guide and an award personally presented by the Italian President in recognition of excellence in Italian cuisine outside of Italy.
The Tuscan-themed décor exudes a feeling of understated elegance with its pumpkin-coloured walls and terra cotta tiles. And you can’t talk about Lucio’s without mentioning the exquisite paintings which adorn the walls, including masterpieces by such leading Australian artists as John Olsen (who also designed the menu), John Coburn and Tim Storrier, to name a few. The waiters in this institution have a reputation for being among the best in Sydney with an unpretentious efficiency that is hard to find in many of Sydney’s fashionable restaurants.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Known for its superb Italian food, impeccable service and the artwork that adorns its walls, dining out at Lucio’s is a feast for the senses.
All pastas are made in house daily and cooked to order. Owner Lucio Galletto hails from a family of restaurateurs in Liguria, Italy, and draws on his heritage with this testament to Italian cuisine.
The wine list is comprehensive displaying a substantial list of over 200 Australian and Italian wines, complimented by a full open bar of beers, aperitifs and cocktails.
PRIVATE DINING/FUNCTIONS
If you are looking for somewhere to hold a function, then Lucio’s is ideal for any occasion from corporate events to soft candlelit dinners. The private room holds 32 people and you can choose a set menu tailored to suit your event - a number of 2 and 3 course options are available and individual menus are printed with your logo at no extra charge.