Harbourside Campbells Cove with stunning water views spanning across Sydney Opera House to Sydney Harbour Bridge is a showcase of our glorious city of Sydney, for visitors and appreciated by Sydney locals alike. And right at the centre of Campbells Cove with the best Sydney Harbour views is lovely Asian fusion restaurant Luna Lu.
If I was a tourist in Sydney this is where I'd want to eat. Terrific food, terrific beverages, terrific service, terrific views. But don't leave Luna Lu just for the incoming. People of Sydney Luna Lu is a super duper place to dine by day or by night.
Right now I'd go back again for the colourful flavourful dumplings. House made, each dumpling wrapper is created with a natural vegetable colour; they are a bright sensation brought to the table in the stackable bamboo steamers. Snacking at leisure on Luna Lu dumplings harbourside is enough reason just in itself to get down to this breathtaking Circular Quay West restaurant. The Luna Lu dumplings are cooked to perfection, that house made wrapper just a little bit al dente, the tasty morsel inside still unctuously soft and juicy. Yes. The dumplings here are really really good. Our best picks are Purple Fan Jiaozi Dumplings ($25 x 4 pieces) slow cooked duck, chinese five spice and hoisin sauce, Green Half Moon Dumplings ($25 x 4 pieces) Hokkaido scallops and king prawn, and vegan Red Crystal Dumplings ($25 x 4 pieces) filled with king oyster and swiss brown mushrooms.
Luna Lu modern Asian food offerings however are much wider and more ample to suit all tastes. While the harbourside location of course declares that seafood should be a focus, the extensive menu provides many more choices. Appellation Oysters and Kataifi Prawns are popular in the Small Plates. Hiramasa Kingfish Sashimi Mosaic is too easy to eat uplifted with hite miso from Kyoto, oscietra caviar, yuzu and ginger dressing. Glacier 51 Toothfish is adorned with green curry and English spinach emulsion, squid ink, snake beans and black cabbage. Tasmanian Southern Rock Lobster Live from the tank, wok fried yi mein noodles, Hong Kong style xo sauce, fresh coriander and chilli - is market price. Peking Duck Luna Style is infused with luxe Chinese rose wine, daikon, fresh scallions, 24 hr tamarind jus and tuscan kale. Vegetarian and vegan menu options are creative and delicious too. Is deep fried ice cream a childhood favourite? Luna Lu updates the nostalgia with pandan ice cream at the centre. This sweet treat is not to be missed for anyone still young at heart. It comes plated with caramelised popcorn, handmade freeze-dried raspberry powder and a toffee sauce. Oh my goodness!
Beverages are just delightful from wines to cocktails. A predominantly Australian wine list features most regions and styles with many wines by the glass - 125ml or 250ml - also with a wine by the glass selections of Coravin (wine preservation method) premium wines. Bottles also have a fabulous section to match with Asian cuisines, including: locals Philip Shaw Misfits Small Batch Arneis Orange NSW; Collector Lamp Lit Marsanne Canberra ACT; Wirra Wirra Absconder Grenache McLaren Vale, SA and internationally Famille Hugel Riesling Classic Alsace France; Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel California, United States; and Loïc Et Noël Bulliat Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, France. The bubbles and Champagnes offer many choices. For something different, try Chinese spirit Baijiu 中国酒as an aperitiv or digestiv. And then of course, the Luna Lu bar also offers seductive and elegant cocktails.
Luna Lu is highly recommended. Service harks back to the glory days of restaurant dining, offering knowledgeable professional waiter service as it should be. If I were to recommend just one restaurant for a first time visitor to Sydney it would be to enjoy some delicious time and the spectacular view at Luna Lu.
