Celebrity chef Adrian Richardson closes La Luna Bistro after 25 years of trade in August
A top chef has told the industry to stop whingeing about the dire state of Melbourne’s hospitality scene, as he closes his Carlton North restaurant of 25 years.
Food
Don't miss out on the headlines from Food. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A top chef says the industry should stop “bitching and moaning” about the dire state of Melbourne’s hospitality scene and “figure out how to make it work”.
TV chef Adrian Richardson’s comments come as he announces the closure of his celebrated La Luna restaurant after 25 years of trade.
While many factors had influenced the Carlton North eatery’s shuttering — including rent, wage and produce hikes — Richardson said he wanted to get ahead of the curve and focus on new projects.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I want to do new things,” he told the Herald Sun.
“It’s a little emotional to let this go. This has been on my mind for a while, and once Covid finished and La Luna took off again … lots of other opportunities came up as well.”
“I had to ask myself: ‘Where am I putting my energy?’”
Richardson said La Luna’s upcoming lease renewal planted the seed in his mind to close the Rathdowne Street site. But he insists this isn’t the end of the restaurant.
“I still own the name, so watch this space. We’re just pressing the pause button. La Luna isn’t over,” he said.
Richardson runs Geelong steakhouse Maestro, Bouvier Bar in East Brunswick, The Gallery Restaurant at Marvel Stadium and a new venture, Pasta Bambino, coming soon.
He also has two new projects in Brisbane: Boss and Aviary.
Richardson said Melbourne was a “tough city to do business in”.
“Brisbane is a smaller city, younger and more vibrant. It’s very different up here,” he said.
“Brisbane demands what Sydney and Melbourne has, but they will put money behind it — people will go out to eat and drink.”
“(Melbourne) has so much competition. Really good competition — and lots of smaller places too. If you can make it in Melbourne, you can make it anywhere and you have to be on your game.”
La Luna is one of the many Melbourne restaurants to close in the last two months.
Last month stalwart CBD restaurants Izakaya Den and Gingerboy closed after decades of trade.
Richardson said increasing cost of wages, utilities, rent and produce had made it harder for everyone to do business.
“Prices have gone up considerably,” he said.
“My insurance two years ago was $8000, now it’s $15,000. My gas was $6000 — now it’s $12,000. All of these things add up. Staff wages have gone up. I’d happily work 60 hours a week back in the day, no nobody wants to do it. I have to pay top dollar for a good chef... I think it’s fantastic we are doing that.”
While Richardson didn’t dismiss the struggles faced by many Melbourne restaurant owners, he said operators needed to be more optimistic.
“My advice is there is an opportunity in every situation,” he said.
“Don’t bitch and moan, get out there and figure out how to make it work. People want to eat and people want to cook — you just need to figure out how to draw a line between the two.”
“Don’t be a sheep and whinge about the problem — be a wolf, go get it.”
La Luna’s final service will be held on August 3.
More Coverage
Why Carl’s Jr was destined to fail in Australia
The US burger giant had ambitious plans to open hundreds of stores across the nation, but faced an uphill battle from the start. Here’s what it got wrong.
Bayswater bakery named best on track
A family run bakery with 30-years on the board has won an exclusive Victoria Racing Club contract to serve its famed pastries at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.