Everyone loved Lucio’s Restaurant in Paddington, Sydney. It was owned by Lucio Galletto and was a haven for long lunches and discussions about art and advertising in its heyday. The walls were covered in decorative art, traded by many famous artists for a meal or two.
However, in October 2021, Lucio and his wife Sally decided that they could no longer continue to run this institution. It closed its doors on 29th January, 2021. There was a tantalising hint that it might open elsewhere. Well praise the lord it has! Where else but in the new foody heaven Noosa.
The Restaurant
This time the Galletto’s children, Matteo and Michela, have taken over the pots and pans and have opened Lucio’s Marina, a 60-seat seafood trattoria plus all-day aperitivo bar. Why Noosa? Well Lucio and Sally have retired to Noosa, so it seemed a fitting venue. Matteo tells me that given a bit of settling in Lucio may even make the odd appearance.
Matteo’s wife, Dieuwke Albertsma (the couple met at Lucio’s, where Dieuwke was the pastry chef) is also a co-owner. We read online that she is introducing a dry-aged fish program of tuna bresaola, swordfish pancetta and kingfish lonza to suit the Noosa climate. Yum.
The interior is light, modern, and airy – with doors opening onto a large deck overlooking the Noosa River. There is still some art from Paddington, including the large portrait of Lucio and a Martin Sharp from my observations.
The location is on the Noosa Marina, which is situated on Memorial Avenue, on the right-hand side as you drive to Tewantin. We booked early for 5.30pm on a Sunday. There was still entertainment at the Marina Bar happening as we arrived, and the Sunset Cruise was taking passengers for their evening jaunt down the river to Hastings Street and back. If you are staying at Hastings Street, you could catch the ferry from the Sofitel wharf, and it would drop you practically in front of the restaurant.
The real reason we arrived early was to take advantage of happy hour which finishes at 5.30 pm. We got there at 5.20 pm.
The Menu
The menu is Italian seafood, made from the best local produce. In its location and style, Matteo gives a nod to his grandparents who 70 years ago opened Capaninna Ciccio, a seafood trattoria on a river at Bocca Di Magra, which he tells us was famous for its seafood dishes.
Cocktails
I mentioned happy hour – I ordered a blood orange margarita ($11) which may well be the best thing I have ever tasted. Frozen granita blood orange spilled over with tequila grande in a generous large, chilled glass, with a salt rim. I nearly cancelled the meal. I wanted to order two more. Mrs E put her foot down, but not until she had ordered a lemon granita gin – which was a work of art.
Entree
We shared a dozen natural oysters and a fritto misto – beautifully cooked calamari and school prawns in a very light but crisp batter. Superb with a cold white wine, on the river, watching the sunset – bliss.
You could also order sashimi grade tuna, octopus carpaccio or mussels. The vegetarian option is the fried sweet potato, drizzled with honey and shaved ricotta.
Main Course
I opted for the pasta. I ordered the tagliolini alla granseola – fine green noodles with Fraser Island spanner crab in fresh tomato passata. If my memory serves me well, this was a dish served at Lucio’s Paddington.
Mrs Cox order the pesce al giorno – a large portion of fresh wild caught barramundi fillet, served in a prawn bisque topped with shaved fennel and dill. Superb!
Other choices comprised large octopus hands flash fried and served with stracciatelli, Skull Island large prawns grilled with parsley butter (obviously the favourite dish of the Ghost Who Walks). For the carnivores there was a sirloin steak and wagyu skirt as well.
Wine
We ordered a bottle of the Julian Broccard Boissonneuse Chablis 2018. It was excellent. A crisp flavoursome Chablis which perfectly matched our selections. The wine list is excellent, with wines from many regions to suit all palates and price points.
Dessert
We shared the Tre Latte. This is described as a “three milk” cake with Italian meringue and Morello cherries. The meringue came as a topping for the cake and was ever so slightly brulee. I am guessing one of the milks was the custard in which it was served. I have never had this before. I will definitely have it again.
You could also order lemon myrtle pannacotta, an affogato, or perhaps a lemon granita.
A delicious Delord X0 Cognac rounded off our fantastic meal.
The Review – 4 ½ Stars
How delighted we were that the culinary team from Lucio’s has moved to set up this most magnificent restaurant at Noosa. They have joined a fairly long list of Sydney and Melbourne restaurateurs who for varied reasons have taken the plunge and moved to a warmer climate.
I can easily envisage the lively lunches which were the hallmark of Lucio’s Paddington being reinvigorated in this new venue, with its perfect location and ambience, but retaining the skill and history of the old.
Lucio’s Marina
- Address: 3/2 Parkyn Ct, Tewantin QLD 4565
- Telephone: (07) 5470 2331
- Website: https://www.luciosmarina.com/
