About

Renowned visionary Chris Lucas stands at the helm of Lucas Restaurants, a
revered and acclaimed lifestyle hospitality brand that holds a special place in the
hearts of Australians. As the mastermind behind this culinary empire, Chris Lucas
has orchestrated a portfolio featuring beloved brands like Chin Chin Melbourne
and Sydney, GoGo Bar, Kisumé, Hawker Hall, Baby Pizza, Grill Americano,
Yakimono, Lillian & Society, effectively transcending the boundaries of traditional
dining.
From humble beginnings working long hours in his family pubs Chris Lucas has
risen to become one of Australia’s most respected and admired restaurateurs.
Embodying the Australian spirit and unrestrained by conventional dining norms,
he curates extraordinary venues that have been recognised both nationally and
internationally, with numerous awards acknowledging Chris’s unique design sense
as well as talent to energise and elevate the restaurant experience to one of fun and
joy.
With an impressive workforce now exceeding 2500 dedicated employees, Chris
Lucas remains the driving force behind the brands.
From pioneering casual all-day dining, and leading the creation of dining precincts
like the renowned Flinders Lane which houses two of his most successful
restaurants, Chin Chin and Kisumé, to redeveloping the derelict historic Griffiths
Tea Building and reenergised the local area of Surry Hills, Chris is an innovator in
his field straddling both design and hospitality.
In 2021 Chris introduced Melbourne and the world to his 80 Collins Street project,
arguably Australia’s most anticipated and exciting restaurant project. His
collaboration with Dexus reimagined the integration of hospitality in new
developments, and led to the three restaurants, a bar and a collection of private
rooms being housed under one address. This project was at the forefront of
technology in a restaurant, with Chris being the first restaurateur to design an all-
electric kitchen to deliver the world class offering.
Most recently Chris opened Grill Americano to critical acclaim, which once again
saw him collaborate with a world class tower to reimagine the role of amenity and
hospitality within the precinct.