Eight years in the making and Chris Lucas’ multi-storey CBD is paying homage to regional French cuisine, with a healthy dose of joie de vivre thrown in. Named after a country loaf of bread, Maison Bâtard leans into its namesake and will focus on stripped-back, regional French cuisine.
Inside, however, is anything but stripped-back. Taking inspiration from the Hotel Particulier in Montmarte, the venue is split into three distinct parts: Restaurant Bâtard, La Terrasse, and Le Club, the basement level supper club which is set to open on December 31.
Spanning the first two floors, the restaurant features an oyster bar, with up to 10 varieties on offer, where punters can also pick and choose their fruits de mer, from rock lobster to scallop ceviche, tuna sashimi and Skull Island prawns. Outside of seafood we’re dealing with a grill-heavy, French bistro menu, ranging from handcut tartare, crab salads, parfaits, veal scallops, working its way up to a big proteins. At the heart of the restaurant is the charcoal grill, flavouring those steaks over open flame or on the Josper, like the rockstar côte de boeuf which weighs in at 1.2kg (and a healthy $220).
La Terrasse, is a more relaxed affair, with harlequin tiles, wrought ironwork and a distinct atrium feel. Here, you can indulge in oysters, little beef bourguignon party pies and jambon doughnuts, or the satisfyingly named Le Cheeseburger, while sipping martinis or going all in on some champagne from the luxe marble bar.
Lucas said he drew inspiration from his travels through France, blending European elegance with a distinctly Melbourne vibe. “There’s an etiquette and culture surrounding French passions for food and dining that has always resonated with me, and I hope to capture some of this joie de vivre in a very Melbourne way with Maison Bâtard,” he says.
Earlier this year Lucas opened Tombo Den in Windsor to much aplomb, serving up sushi and kook in droves. After some more French cuisine? Check out our top recs for Melbourne’s best French restaurants from casual to fine dining.
Maison Bâtard is now open, book your table here.
Images: Maison Bâtard | Supplied
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